ANEEJ, African Center Strengthen Collaboration with Code of Conduct Bureau on Tackling Illicit Financial Flows

ABUJA, Nigeria — September 11, 2025 — As part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s anti-corruption institutions and build high-level political support for the fight against Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs), the Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) and the African Centre for Governance ,Asset Recovery and Sustainable Development have initiated formal engagement with the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).

This collaboration is under the ongoing project titled: “Tackling Illicit Financial Flows through Asset Recovery and Management, and Countering Money Laundering, Terrorism Financing, and Proliferation Financing (AML/CFT/PF).” The project is funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) of the UK Government and is being implemented with the full approval and support of the Federal Ministry of Justice.

Leading the delegation, Rev. David Ugolor, Executive Director of ANEEJ, paid a courtesy visit to the Chairman of the CCB, Dr. Abdullahi Usman Bello, at the Bureau’s headquarters in Abuja. The visit was aimed at initiating collaboration with the Bureau, conducting a Technical Needs Assessment (TNA), and exploring opportunities to support the CCB’s implementation of the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Act, 2022 (POCA).

“The CCB plays a pivotal role in enforcing public sector accountability, and we are here to support this mandate by identifying and addressing technical and capacity gaps through this project,” said Rev. Ugolor.

In her contribution, Barr. Esther Agbaje, Team Lead of the Technical Needs Assessment (TNA) for Relevant Organizations (ROs) from the African Center , explained that the TNA seeks to assess the level of POCA implementation within the CCB, including the unique challenges and gaps facing the Bureau. The goal, she said, is to design fit-for-purpose interventions that directly respond to the Bureau’s operational realities.

“The Technical Needs Assessment is a critical part of this project, helping us to better understand the needs of organizations listed under POCA. So far, our team has visited NAPTIP, NDLEA, the Federal Ministry of Justice, ICPC, and the Nigeria Police Force,” she noted.

Responding to the visit, Dr. Abdullahi Usman Bello, Chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau, who was joined by senior directors and board members, expressed appreciation for the engagement and reaffirmed the Bureau’s willingness to collaborate.

“The Code of Conduct Bureau, as the foremost constitutionally established anti-corruption agency in Nigeria, welcomes this collaboration. We are committed to working together to ensure the successful implementation of POCA and strengthen our institutional role in combating illicit financial flows,” he said.

Also speaking, Mr. Ifeanyi Okorocha, Director overseeing POCA-related matters at the Bureau, described the engagement as timely and in alignment with the Bureau’s current priorities on asset recovery and management.

This engagement marks a significant milestone in fostering institutional synergy, strengthening enforcement mechanisms, and building Nigeria’s capacity to effectively tackle illicit financial flows.

In appreciation of the visit , a plaque of the CCB was presented to the Executive Director of ANEEJ by the Chairman of CCB, Dr. Abudullahi Usman Bello.

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