President Muhammadu Buhari has sent the Proceed of Crimes bill he refused assent to, last year, to the Senate for reconsideration .
The bill which emanated from the 8th Senate in 2018 and passed for third reading in May 2019 with attendant concurrence from the House of Representatives , was refused assent by President Buhari in June 2019 after expiration of tenure of the 8th Senate.
But President Buhari in repackaging the bill, turned it to an executive one through a letter of request written and forwarded to that effect.
In the letter read by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, Buhari said the bill will address the problem of lack of transparency and accountability associated with the management of recovered funds by anti-corruption agencies in the country.
He noted that the bill is critical in sustaining the fight against corruption, money laundering and illicit movement of stolen funds through the banking system and across Nigerian borders.
The letter reads: “I am pleased to inform the Distinguished Senators that the above mentioned bill was presented to the Federal Executive Council, in council memo EC (2020)159 on 16th September 2020 and was subsequently approved for transmission to the National Assembly.
“Please recall that this bill was passed by the National Assembly in 2019 but was not granted assent due to some issues that were identified during the review.
“The Proceeds of Crime Bill is essential and critical in building an enduring and sustainable foundation for the fight against corruption, money laundering and illicit movement of stolen funds through the banking system and across the Nigerian borders.
“The bill will also improve the ability of law enforcement agencies to seize, freeze, and confiscate stolen assets in Nigeria while observing all related constitutional and human rights laws.
“This bill will also address the problem of lack of transparency, accountability, and lack of credible records associated with the current procedure in the management of recovered funds by anti-corruption agencies and other institutions in Nigeria.
“An important feature of the bill is the creation of the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Agency.
“The proposed function of the Agency includes the enforcement and administration of the provisions of the Bill and the coordination of the recovery and management of the proceeds and instrumentalities of unlawful activity in Nigeria in all collaboration with anti-corruption and other law enforcement agencies.
“Most importantly, the Agency will ensure that Nigerians can benefit from proceeds of crime by ensuring that once recovery is made, the properties and assets will be secured and that the final forfeitures granted through a court order can be paid into the Confiscated and Forfeited Account to be domiciled in the Central Bank of Nigeria.
“These funds will be used for development projects approved by the National Assembly under the annual Appropriation Act and also support the work of the law enforcement and anti-corruption agencies.”
