Forget It! Buhari, Osinbajo’s Assets Can’t Be Declared Publicly

Those wishing to see the assets of President Muhammadu Buhari and his Vice, Yemi Osinbajo declared publicly should forever perish the thoughts as the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB, has said it has no legal mandate to do so.

President Buhari had said during the campaign that he would publicly declare his assets as soon as he is sworn-in. He has failed to do so even with mounting criticism.

According to Sam Saba, the Chairman of The Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), has announced that CCB has no legal mandate to publicise the assets public officers reveal to them.

On Tuesday Saba told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the only role the bureau has concerning public officials’ assets is to make sure that they are verified after they’ve been declared.

Thus, CCB has no power to publicize President Muhammadu Buhari’s assets.

Saba said, “We do not have power to make public the assets declared by the president. The CCB does not have the right to make anybody’s assets declaration available on pages of newspaper or online.”

However, Saba noted that the President himself assured he would later make a public declaration.

“The President has in a statement through his media aide said he will make his submissions public after the bureau has verified within his first 100 days in office,” he said.

During his campaign Buhari made a pledge and now, 31 days after he has officially assumed office, he faces continuous criticism for not yet keeping his word.

Surrounded by these criticisms, Buhari maintains that he will make his promised declaration after CCB completes their verification process.

Saba also pinned the failure of many public officers to declare their assets on the lack of comprehension of Nigeria’s constitution.

He said, “my message for public office holders is to study the constitution because I think in this country, we have poor reading habits. Most people come into public office in ignorance.”

Saba also alluded to the way public officers refuse to acknowledge or perhaps do not even know that they should not operate foreign bank accounts.

“I believe that if people have read all these and are aware, it will help them to take a decision that will help them to serve the people.”