By From Femi Oyelola |
A coalition of anti-corruption stakeholders has underscored the urgent need for strengthened legislative oversight to guarantee the effective and transparent implementation of the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Act, 2022 (POCA). The call to action came during a high-level dialogue in Abuja, where experts dissected the governance framework required to make Nigeria’s asset recovery architecture world-class.
In his keynote address, John Onyeukwu, Esq. , a lawyer and governance specialist, asserted that the success of POCA hinges on more than just the powers it confers. He argued that the discipline with which those powers are exercised and supervised is the true measure of the Act’s impact.
The Imperative of Constitutional Discipline
Onyeukwu noted that while POCA represents a monumental shift by consolidating forfeiture powers and clarifying institutional mandates, its implementation faces significant hurdles. He identified coordination gaps among law enforcement agencies, administrative bottlenecks, and a lack of transparency in the management of recovered assets as critical challenges threatening the law’s integrity.
“The true test of POCA lies not in the breadth of power it confers, but in the discipline with which that power is exercised, supervised, and constitutionally restrained,” Onyeukwu stated. He emphasized that without rigorous oversight, the legal framework risks being undermined by the very inefficiencies it seeks to eliminate.
A Three-Pillar Governance Framework
To address these challenges, Onyeukwu proposed a governance framework for POCA implementation anchored in three mutually reinforcing pillars: constitutional discipline, institutional design, and governance delivery.
He explained that for the Act to fulfill its mandate, institutions must be designed to foster interagency collaboration. This includes operationalizing the Joint Directorate envisaged under POCA and refining mechanisms for non-conviction-based forfeitures to ensure they are balanced with constitutional safeguards for citizens’ rights.
The Role of the National Assembly
The dialogue placed a heavy emphasis on the legislative arm’s duty to hold executive agencies accountable. Onyeukwu urged the National Assembly to exercise its oversight functions proactively to ensure that asset recovery processes operate efficiently and fairly.
“Strengthened parliamentary oversight is not optional; it is essential to ensure that asset recovery processes are efficient, fair, and transparent,” he said. The call for greater legislative scrutiny includes a demand for public reporting on recovered assets to ensure that funds looted from the public are eventually returned to benefit the public.
Informing the Upcoming Public Hearing
The event, organized by the Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) with support from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) , served as a precursor to a significant legislative exercise. It comes ahead of a public hearing on a private bill sponsored by Senator Idiat Oluranti Adebule, PhD , scheduled for February 26, 2026.
Stakeholders resolved that the outcomes of their dialogue would be packaged and forwarded to the National Assembly to inform deliberations on the POCA Amendment Bill. The engagement demonstrated a renewed commitment among civil society and development partners to collaborate with the legislature in strengthening Nigeria’s anti-corruption framework and promoting accountability in the management of recovered assets.
First published by the PeoplesDaily.
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