The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has raised an alarming trend: some politicians are now resorting to what the agency calls “anticipatory looting”, declaring assets they’ve not yet acquired even before taking office.
EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, made the disclosure during the launch of a virtual tool on the Code of Conduct for Public Officers in Abuja. According to him, this trend came to light during routine investigations.
“There was a matter we investigated… We discovered a property valued well over N3bn declared in the CCB form,” he recalled. “The address on the form didn’t match the actual location.”
As he dug deeper, Olukoyede added that the address actually corresponded to a site, number 44, not number 39 as declared, linked to a grand mansion the official planned to build.
“He declared what he intends to acquire by the time he gets into office,” Olukoyede said.
“He designed the mansion he wanted before being sworn in. It’s terrible… we felt this is a bit odd.”
He challenged the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) to be more vigilant.
Also speaking at the event, Didi Esther Walson‑Jack, Head of Service of the Federation explained that the virtual tool aims to raise ethical standards in the civil service.
