By Salihu Tsibiri
House of Representatives has directed the heads of the Nigerian Navy, Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Immigration Service and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to appear before it on November 2, 2026.
The Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Public Assets, Mr Ibe Okwara Osonwa, announced the date during the committee’s inaugural meeting at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja.
The committee is investigating the management of seized, forfeited and recovered assets in Nigeria.
Mr Ibe Okwara, explained that the decision was part of efforts to conduct a comprehensive audit of recovered assets, establish a unified digital registry and strengthen transparency and accountability in the management of assets acquired through law enforcement operations and other statutory processes.
He described the assignment as an important national responsibility, noting that the management, disposal and utilisation of seized, forfeited and recovered assets had remained issues of public concern and institutional scrutiny across successive administrations.
The committee Chairman maintained that persistent questions about the transparency of asset recovery processes, coordination among government agencies and the eventual disposition of recovered properties had underscored the need for a comprehensive review of existing practices.
“Across various administrations, questions have persisted regarding transparency, coordination, and the integrity of processes governing assets seized or forfeited through anti-corruption efforts, criminal justice actions, and administrative enforcement,” he said.
The lawmaker stressed that the concerns extended beyond administrative procedures, explaining that the effective management of recovered assets was critical to public trust, institutional credibility and the overall effectiveness of Nigeria’s anti-corruption framework.
According to him, the Sub-Committee on Public Assets has been mandated to undertake a comprehensive audit to establish a clear, accurate and verifiable record of all seized, forfeited and recovered assets held, controlled or managed by relevant government institutions.
He explained that the exercise would help determine the status of such assets, improve documentation and establish greater clarity regarding their custody, management and eventual utilisation.
Okwara, also identified the development of a unified digital registry as another major objective of the assignment, saying it would provide a centralised and verifiable record of recovered assets, improve information-sharing among relevant agencies and reduce duplication and inconsistencies in existing records.
He urged members of the Sub-Committee on Public Assets to approach the assignment with diligence, objectivity and a strong sense of national responsibility.
The invitation is expected to enable the sub-committee to obtain relevant information from the agencies on their roles in the seizure, recovery, custody and management of assets, as well as their existing procedures for documenting and accounting for such properties.
Editing By Yusuf Zubairu
