By:Femi Mustapha
Public servants entrusted with asset recovery and management must operate with uncompromising integrity, professionalism, and accountability, the Solicitor‑General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Justice, Mrs Beatrice Jedy‑Agba, declared at a two‑day retreat on February 13‑14, 2026.
Represented by Mr. T. F. Ali‑Bozi, head of the Asset Recovery and Management Unit (ARMU), reminded participants that “the credibility of the Ministry and indeed the Federal Government of Nigeria depends significantly on how effectively and transparently staff of the ministry carry out their functions.”
The retreat, organized by the Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) with funding from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), brought together 15 staff from the ARMU and the International Cooperation Unit.
It aimed to bolster capacity for tracing, confiscating, and managing the proceeds of crime, while reinforcing Nigeria’s commitment to international cooperation on mutual legal assistance, extradition, and cross-border asset recovery.
“Asset recovery remains a critical pillar in the fight against corruption and economic crimes,” Jedy‑Agba said. “It is not merely about tracing and confiscating proceeds of crime;
It is about restoring public confidence, strengthening the rule of law, and ensuring that recovered assets are managed transparently and effectively for the benefit of the Nigerian people.” She added that in an interconnected world, proceeds of crime are often hidden across jurisdictions, making strong collaboration, technical competence, expertise, and adherence to international best practices essential.
The Solicitor‑General highlighted that the retreat provides a platform for honest engagement, knowledge sharing, and capacity strengthening, enabling participants to examine operational challenges, improve inter‑departmental coordination, and enhance compliance with the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Act, 2022, and relevant international conventions.
ANEEJ Executive Director Rev. David Ugolor, represented by his deputy Leo Atakpu, commended the Ministry’s leadership for its unwavering commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s asset recovery architecture.
“This retreat is an important opportunity to reflect, recalibrate, and strengthen coordination for the effective operationalisation of POCA in line with Nigeria’s obligations under UNCAC and FATF standards,” Ugolor said.
He stressed that asset recovery is “fundamentally about justice, accountability and development,” noting that every naira lost to corruption represents a school not built, a hospital not equipped, a road not completed,pleted and livelihoods not supported.
Ugolor recalled ANEEJ’s two‑decade advocacy and monitoring work on asset recovery, including its FCDO‑supported Illicit Financial Flows project, which has promoted transparency, inter‑agency collaboration, and accountability in the recovery and management of stolen assets.
“Our work has included monitoring of repatriated assets, engagement with ARMU, collaboration with anti‑corruption agencies,s and advocacy for stronger compliance with global standards,” he added.
The retreat continues tomorrow, with participants expected to develop actionable recommendations to improve asset recovery processes, enhance international cooperation, and ensure that recovered assets are channeled toward national development priorities.
