Why we can't make Buhari's assets declaration public - CCB

Posted by Nicholas on Tue 02nd Jun, 2015 - tori.ng

The Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) has opened up on why it can't force the President and his Vice to publicly declare their assets.

The people of Nigeria have felt cheated after President Muhammadu Buhari and his Vice, Yemi Osinbajo refused to declare their assets publicly.

The Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) has now said that it does not have the authority to make public details of the assets declared by President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo.

The CCB made the disclosure in response to calls by individuals and groups that the public should be informed of the net worth of Nigeria’s new leaders.

However, while speaking to Vanguard through his Special Assistant, Gwimi Sebastian Peter, CCB Chairman, Sam Sada stated that only the National Assembly has the power decide the terms and conditions under which such documents could be made public.

“While the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999) and the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act give the bureau powers to receive assets declarations, verify, examine, keep in custody and enforce compliance when there is a breach, the responsibility of determining how and on what terms asset declarations will be made accessible to the public was left to the National Assembly,” Sada said.

“Several National Assemblies have come and gone since the establishment of the CCB without addressing the matter,” he added.

The CCB Chairman said further that the bureau would comply with whichever terms and conditions were specified by the National Assembly on the matter.

Buhari and Osinbajo declared their assets on Thursday, May 28, 2015, before their inauguration on Friday, May 29.