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ICPC Vows to Name Owners of Recovered Assets, Publish Details
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has pledged to publicly disclose details of assets recovered through its anti-corruption operations, including their ownership and current status.
The commission said the move would strengthen transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s fight against corruption and ensure that recovered properties and funds are properly managed for the benefit of citizens.
The Director of Special Services at the ICPC and Chairman of the Local Organising Committee of the maiden General Assembly of the African Asset Recovery Practitioners’ Forum (AARP-F), Prince Hassan Mohammed, gave the assurance during a pre-conference media briefing in Abuja at the weekend.
Mohammed, however, could not provide figures on the volume of assets recovered by the commission when asked whether it had compiled relevant data ahead of the continental meeting scheduled for November 17 to 20 at the Abuja Continental Hotel.
Asked whether the ICPC would regularly publish information about recovered assets, their ownership and current status, he said the commission was committed to making such details available to the public.
“Definitely, ICPC will do that. Nothing is hidden. It’s a public document.
“Anything recovered is for the public. And so, ICPC will definitely declare anything and whatever has been recovered,” he said.
Explaining the importance of the African Union-backed initiative, Mohammed said asset recovery had become a critical component of the global fight against corruption.
He stressed that the responsibility of anti-corruption agencies should not end with tracing and recovering stolen wealth, adding that recovered assets must be put to productive use for the benefit of ordinary citizens.
“To be sure, to ensure that what was recovered is put to use for the benefit of the generality of the masses is an aspect of the fight against corruption, which the African Union is advancing,” he said.
On whether any African country had performed better than Nigeria in asset recovery, Mohammed said it was difficult to make such comparisons because some countries did not publicly disclose information about their recoveries.
“Some of these countries recover their assets and you don’t know what they have recovered. We don’t know whether they are doing their recoveries or not,” he added.
He noted that the Abuja Assembly would provide an opportunity for African countries to share experiences, examine their respective recovery efforts and strengthen cooperation.
According to him, the four-day gathering will bring together representatives from 54 African countries, international partners and other stakeholders to develop practical strategies for tackling illicit financial flows and improving asset recovery mechanisms across the continent.
Established in Nairobi, Kenya, in April 2025, the AARP-F serves as a continental platform for asset recovery practitioners to promote the implementation of the Common African Position on Asset Recovery (CAPAR).
The Assembly, themed, ‘From Commitment to Action – Enhancing Africa’s Asset Recovery Architecture through Effective Implementation of the Common African Position on Asset Recovery (CADAR)’, is expected to review progress, identify institutional and operational challenges, strengthen partnerships and adopt governance instruments and strategic action plans.
Mohammed disclosed that participants would also visit selected locations in Nigeria to assess how some recovered assets were being utilised.
He said discussions would focus on moving beyond policy declarations to practical cooperation in information sharing, mutual legal assistance and collaboration among anti-corruption agencies and relevant institutions.
The ICPC official urged the media to sustain public scrutiny of asset recovery activities beyond the Abuja meeting, describing journalists as vital partners in making technical discussions and policy commitments understandable to ordinary Africans.
The Assembly is expected to strengthen Africa’s collective capacity to trace, freeze, confiscate, recover and repatriate illicitly acquired assets while ensuring that recovered resources contribute meaningfully to the continent’s development.
