From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
The Civil Society Legislative and Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), has charged governments, anti-graft and law enforcement agencies in the African continent to ensure that the original victims of stolen assets are given back assets stolen from their states when recovered.
The Executive Director of CISLAC, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, who doubles as the head of Transparency International Nigeria, speaking at the Global South Forum for Asset Recovery, in Nairobi Kenya, decried the practice of marginalizing the original victims of stolen assets (whom the assets were stolen from in the first place) when recovered by governments across the continent.
He cited the dispute between the Nigerian government and Delta state as well as the improperly managed COVID-19 monies in Kenya as two instances, saying that if the assets are not thoroughly monitored, they could be re-looted by authorities who have bad intentions for their nation. He stated that it is crucial for state citizens to gain from property that corrupt leaders have stolen from them.
Additionally, he urged African nations to develop legal frameworks for the management of seized assets, claiming that doing so would persuade non-African nations where the assets are located to return them to Africa.
Additionally, Rafsanjani urged Nigerian law enforcement and anti-corruption organizations to fully abide by the recently passed Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Act, 2022 when it comes to asset seizures, confiscation, and management.
He said while the new law does not solve the issue of proper coordination, the provision for anti-graft agencies to operate a database of recovered information where citizens can know the status of seized assets is commendable.
The CISLAC, however, lauded President Buhari and the National Assembly for the piece of legislation which according to him was long overdue.
He also noted that recovered assets shouldn’t be used for bogus projects, but rather projects that will benefit the citizens.
Rafsanjani also called for more cooperation between state and non state actors in asset tracing, repatriation and disposal.
The forum had representatives drawn from civil society organizations in Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, Kenya, Angola, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United State, France, Germany, representatives from the African Union secretariat, GIZ amongst others.