Civil society organizations urge transparency and accountability in the use of looted proceeds

Civil Society Organizations (CSO) Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) and Human Development and Environment Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) are calling for greater transparency and public accountability in the management of assets obtained through corruption.

HURIWA stated that the success of anti-corruption campaigns in Nigeria should be measured not only by court-ordered confiscations but also by how the recovered wealth benefits ordinary Nigerians.

They made the call on Sunday, praising the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for securing a series of landmark court wins that led to the permanent confiscation of assets worth billions of naira linked to unlawful activities.

In a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, the association said recent court decisions involved the seizure of jewelery worth over N4.6 billion, luxury vehicles N4.293 billion, cash obtained from businesswoman Aisha Achimugu; The Supreme Court’s recovery of assets linked to former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele, the seizure of 52 luxury homes in Lagos, and other recoveries have strengthened public confidence in the role of the judiciary in eradicating corruption.

HEDA described the ruling as a significant boost to its anti-corruption campaign in Nigeria.

HEDA Chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, commended the anti-corruption agency for bringing the case to its logical conclusion and commended the judiciary for upholding the rule of law.

According to Suraju, the ruling shows that anti-corruption agencies can achieve meaningful results, both against private and public parties, if investigations and prosecutions are carried out professionally and without undue interference.