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The Code of Conduct Bureau (CBB) has said it is investigating corruption cases involving former ministers, current top government officials and senior public office holders at both federal and state levels.
The chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Bello disclosed that the agency has started investigating high-profile individuals including a former minister that has already been taken to court.
“Right now, we are investigating another former minister and also a serving top government official. I won’t mention names because we are still at the investigation stage. We don’t want to turn it into a media trial.”
Bello added that the bureau had also secured interim forfeiture orders from the courts and recording recoveries from investigations involving local government chairmen and senior state officials
He noted that the Nigeria’s anti-corruption war did not target only low-level offenders while shielding politically exposed persons, as alleged in certain quarters
Bello dismissed the allegation, insisting that ministers, senior government officials and other high-profile individuals are currently under investigation.
He explained that the Bureau’s operations are guided strictly by law and due process, not media pressure or political considerations.
Defending the bureau’s quiet approach, the chairman warned against public condemnation before evidence is established.
“From my experience working with the EFCC, sometimes people write frivolous petitions. Once the media starts reporting it, the person is already labeled corrupt. But, if investigations later show he is innocent, his name is already damaged. That is why we only speak when we are ready to go to court.”
According to him, asset declaration remains the core tool of the bureau’s work.
“Every public officer is required to declare assets at the beginning and at the end of their tenure. It is within this window that corruption is detected.
“If you declare your assets at the beginning of your tenure and we verify it, we don’t have any issue with you again until the end of your tenure. But if at the end of your tenure you suddenly move from N10 million to N200 million and you cannot explain the source of that increase, that is where we come in,” he explained.
Bello noted that investigations are not limited to asset comparisons alone. He said the bureau also acts on petitions and allegations from members of the public and public servants.
“If there is a petition against you, we investigate. If we find that you did not declare your assets or cannot explain the source of your income, we will take you to court,” he said.
Addressing concerns about Nigeria’s low anti-corruption rating, the CCB boss pointed to structural and operational challenges, including limited manpower, funding and reliance on manual systems.
“We are talking about 4.5 million public servants in Nigeria. We cannot investigate or verify all of them with the resources. To manage this, the bureau has adopted a risk-based approach, focusing its limited resources on high-risk and high-profile individuals where the impact would be greatest. That is why it may look like we are selective, but it is not about protecting anyone. It is about using scarce resources wisely to get the highest results,” he explained.
Bello added that the planned transition to an online asset declaration system would significantly improve efficiency, verification and prosecution.
The Bureau has also issued a stern warning to Local Government Council Chairmen across the country, that the era of unchecked access to public funds is over.
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The CCB boss said the bureau has placed local government chairmen among its top high-risk targets in the fight against corruption, stressing that every kobo must be accounted for from the first day in office to the last.
He explained that the bureau identified local government chairmen as high-risk individuals due to the increased resources now flowing directly to the councils under the autonomy framework.
He said Intelligence reports indicated that some officials were already diverting these funds for personal use.
“My message to local government chairmen and officials is simple.
“CCB is here and we are watching. Once you assume office, you will declare your assets at the beginning of your tenure and at the end.
“You will also account for the difference. If you cannot explain it, we will take it,” he said.
Bello added: “Unlike other law enforcement agencies that must prove beyond doubt that money was stolen, the CCB operates a simpler but potent system.
“Our own question is straightforward: can you explain the source of this money?”
“The onus is on you, not on us. If you declared ₦10 million at the beginning of your tenure and ₦100 million at the end, you must explain the ₦90 million difference.
“We know your salary and allowances. If you cannot explain it, we can forfeit the money. We don’t need to prove you stole it”.
Bello noted that the bureau’s mandate is largely preventive rather than reactive.
He said by ensuring strict asset declaration and monitoring, the CCB aims to discourage public officials from stealing in the first place.
“What is the essence of stealing money when you know you will not enjoy it?
“If you know you will be tracked, you will think twice before taking public funds.” he added.
The CCB Chairman described the bureau as “one of the most potent tools in the fight against corruption”.
He warned that undeclared or unexplained assets would inevitably end up in government custody through the courts.
The CCB chairman appealed to the citizens for intelligence and information, noting that corruption often runs through networks that may include seemingly low-level officers.
“Support us, encourage us and share information with us; together, we can erid this country of corruption,” he said.
