Channel proceeds of crime recovery to PWDs fund, group tells FG
By: Femi Mustapha
An Anti-Corruption group under the auspices of Strengthening Civic Advocacy and Local Engagement (SCALE) has urged the Federal Government to channels Proceeds of Crime Recovery for the benefit of Persons Living with Disabilities (PWDs).
A member of the Anti-Corruption Cluster of the (SCALE) project, Mr. Lukman Adefolahan,asserted this during a Dialogue on National Anti -Corruption Strategy (NACS11) and pending anti corruption bills support from USAID through Palladium, held in Abuja, From 29th – 30th November, 2022
According to him, such proceeds can be put into the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities in line with the National Disability Act and should also be channeled towards construction of infrastructures that will make life easier for PWDs. He therefore called on all CSOs and the media to join in this noble campaign.
He opined that, signing of the proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Act that establishes the Proceeds of Crime Management Directorate in relevant organizations is good, but it is the beginning of a new advocacy for where the funds should be channeled to.
Adefolahan, who is the Executive Director, 21st Century Community Empowerment for youth and Women Initiative, Abuja noted that the Act establishes the Proceeds of Crime Management Directorate in relevant organizations and the Directorate shall have the exclusive power to take over and assume responsibility for the proper and effective management of properties forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria among.
“In view of this we in the CSOs and the media must be up and doing to ensure transparency for the Anti-Corruption fight to be meaningful.
Lukman stressed that the relevant organisation where the Directorate is domicile is empowered to apply to the Court for an order to sell a property subject to a preservation order at the prevailing market value where there are reasonable grounds to believe that property, may have its value diminished, disposed of, or destroyed.
“The proceeds from the sale of any property shall be invested in the Central Bank of Nigeria treasury bills, pending the determination of the proceedings,” he said.
