By Oluwakemi Kindness
The House of Representatives has summoned five security and regulatory agencies to explain how they manage seized, forfeited and recovered assets in Nigeria.
The Nigerian Navy, Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Immigration Service and Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) are to appear before the House Sub-Committee on Public Assets on November 2, 2026.
The committee’s chairman, Ibe Okwara Osonwa, announced the date at its inaugural meeting in Abuja. He represents Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency of Abia State.
Osonwa said the committee would audit recovered assets, establish a unified digital registry and recommend reforms to strengthen transparency and accountability.
He said persistent questions about how authorities document, manage and dispose of recovered properties had raised concerns about public trust and coordination among government agencies.
“These concerns are not merely technical—they strike at the heart of public trust, institutional credibility, and the effectiveness of Nigeria’s anti-corruption architecture,” he said.
The committee also plans to review existing accountability procedures and track assets from seizure through custody and eventual disposal or transfer for public use.
Osonwa said the exercise should ensure that recovered assets serve the public through restitution, reinvestment and national development.
The lawmakers fixed November 2 for the agencies’ appearance following a motion moved by Hon. Omosede Igbinedion and supported by other members.
The agencies are expected to provide details of their roles in asset recovery and management, including how they document and account for the properties.
