The Code of Conduct Bureau confirmed this yesterday in Abuja when it told NEXT that both Mr Jonathan and Mr Sambo have submitted their asset forms to the bureau for internal verification. The head of press unit in the organisation, Idowu Jokpeyibo said both public officials are deemed to have declared their assets with the submission of all relevant forms to the bureau.
Officials however refused to comment on the contents of the forms submitted by the President and his deputy, insisting that the documents were secret papers. They also ignored questions about the process of verifying the information contained in the forms.
Mrs Jokpeyibo said, “Having cross-checked the official record before me following your enquiry, I can confirm to you that the Code of Conduct Bureau is in receipt of the assets forms of both the President and Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I will get back in touch with you as soon as I get the particular day the forms were submitted by the public servants.”
What the law says
According to the 11th code of the bureau’s handbook for Public Officers, (1): “Every public officer shall within three months after taking office and thereafter: (a) at the end of every four years; and (b) at the end of the term of office: submit to the Code of Conduct Bureau a declaration of all his properties, assets and liabilities and those of his spouse, or unmarried children under the age of 21 years.” The law also adds that: (2): “Any statement in such declaration that is found to be false by any authority or person authorised in that behalf to verify it shall be deemed to be a breach of this code; (3): Any property or assets acquired by a public officer after any declaration under this constitution and which is not fairly attributable by sub-paragraph (1) (a) of a gift or loan approved by the code, shall be deemed to have been acquired in breach of this code unless the contrary is proved.”
It could not be verified at press time how many of the new ministers who collected asset declaration forms when they assumed office have filled and returned same.
The bureau’s travails
Recently, the conduct bureau has gained the reputation of a lame duck for its inability to enforce its own laws. Many problems have trailed its activities, including; exaggerated declarations; the duplication of its functions by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission; low number of convictions, and the aiding of corrupt officers by hoarding information that should be within the public domain.
In order to correct this impression, the bureau recently threatened 25 ex-ministers who were yet to declare their assets, with prosecution.
In 2007, the then Vice President Goodluck Jonathan bowed to public opinion and released details of his assets totalling N295, 304, 420. The declaration took place before Muktar N. Dodo of the Abuja High Court on May 30. Mr Jonathan had no foreign accounts or assets.
>> The total worth of Mr Jonathan’s private residences was N67, 990,000 according to that declaration. The buildings include a four- bedroom duplex in Kpansia, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, valued at N15 million; a four-flat storey building extension of the family house in Yenagoa valued at N10 million and his seven bedroom village home at Otuoke, Ogbia Local Government Area, which was bombed days before his inauguration as Vice President, valued at N18 million and a five-bedroom personal residence in Gwarinpa, Abuja valued at N24, 990,000.
>> Under vehicles and household items, Mr Jonathan declared assets worth N41.8 million. They include a BMW car in Abuja valued at N15 million, generators, electronics, air conditioners, furniture, kitchen utensils and others in Kpansia, Yenagoa and Gwarimpa, Abuja valued at N26 million. The car was declared as a gift while the other items were declared to have been procured from savings.
>> Jonathan also declared vacant and undeveloped plots worth N60.538 million. They include five undeveloped plots of land in Bayelsa State, two undeveloped plots of land in Cadastral Zone BO2 and AO6 in Abuja. He disclosed also a yearly income of N62, 072, 200. These comprise investments in stocks in 16 Nigerian blue chip companies managed by City-Code Trust & Investment Company Limited. His investments also cover four 16-seater passenger boats which he hires to companies and other agencies. The Vice President’s total cash in Nigerian banks (Bank PHB, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, UBA and others) is put at N58, 984, 123. He stated that the total income includes personal savings and income from his investments including performing stocks and hiring of the boats.
