Africa Network for Environment & Economic Justice Advocates for Proper Utilization of Recovered Assets
A one-day stakeholders meeting for the validation of the research report on the review of the implementation of key Global Forum on Asset Recovery (GFAR) principles has ended with a call on duty bearers to ensure greater transparency, accountability and access to information.
The meeting held in Asaba, Delta State was to review the research report conducted by the Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) from October, 2024 to March 2025 across the six geopolitical Zones in Nigeria attracted critical stakeholders including governmental, non-governmental organisations, and the media.
In his opening remark, the Deputy Executive Director, ANEEJ, Mr. Leo Atakpu observed that corruption is a serious development challenge in Nigeria and across the globe, pointing out that ANEEJ is concerned with identifying the gaps in the current asset recovery process in Nigeria with a view to recommending ways to improve the process in future.
Mr. Atakpu who also presented the research report noted that the research was prompted by the high level of poverty, unemployment and widespread corruption in Nigeria and recommended among others that the Federal Government of Nigeria, FGN should ensure greater transparency, accountability and access to information for citizens to be better informed about the process.
He also called for critical measures to be devised to stem illicit financial flows out of the country, while making frantic efforts to deepen the apparatus for the Crime controlling and enforcement agencies, such as the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, NFIU, the EFCC, the ICPC, and the Police among others.
Mr. Atakpu stressed that poor awareness on asset recovery, management and Utilization should be addressed as many citizens who should be beneficiaries of the recovered funds are oblivious of the fact that the returned assets were used to provide landmark projects by the FGN, such as the Lagos- Ibadan Express Way, the 2nd Niger Bridge, and the Abuja-Kaduna Road.
In his goodwill message, the Director, CLEEN Foundation, Mr. Peter Maduoma commended the participants for coming to review the final stage of the research while driving progress in asset recovery with all seriousness. He extolled ANEEJ for partnering CLEEN Foundation in the issue of asset recovery, and illicit funds that flow from Nigeria to foreign countries, pointing out that more work needs to be done to ensure that citizens who are the owners of the looted funds benefit from the recovered loots.
Also speaking, the Executive Director, African Centre for Governance, Asset Recovery and Sustainable Development, Barr. Juliet Ibekaku-Nwagwu, represented by Emmanuel Yusuf commended FCDO for funding the project, adding that asset recovery is not just a matter of recovering looted funds, but it’s more about restoring justice, rebuilding trust, and ensuring that stolen wealth serves the people it was meant to benefit. She described the report as a vital tool for accountability and transparency.
Highlight of the event was a review by the participants.
