We are investigating ministers, top govt officials over corruption – CCB

By Philomina Attah

The Code of Conduct Bureau (CBB) says it is investigating corruption cases involving former ministers, current top government officials and senior public office holders at both federal and state levels.

The CCB Chairman, Dr Abubakar Bello disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja.

“We have started investigating high-profile individuals. There is a former minister we have already 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,” he said.

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.

Bello 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.

The CCB Chairman 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,” he said.

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 ₦10 million to ₦200 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.