By Mercy Aikoye
The House of Representatives has summoned five security and regulatory agencies to appear before its Sub-Committee on Public Assets over the management of seized, forfeited and recovered assets in the country.
The agencies are the Nigerian Navy, Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Immigration Service and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
They are expected to appear before the sub-committee on November 2, 2026, to provide information on their roles in the recovery, custody, management and disposal of assets obtained through law enforcement and other statutory processes.
The Chairman of the sub-committee, Hon. Ibe Okwara Osonwa, disclosed this during its inaugural meeting in Abuja, describing the exercise as a major step towards addressing transparency and accountability concerns surrounding recovered public assets.
Osonwa, who represents Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency of Abia State, said persistent questions about the handling of seized and forfeited properties had made a comprehensive review of existing practices necessary.
He noted that concerns over coordination among government agencies, the documentation of recovered assets and their eventual disposal had persisted across successive administrations.
“Across various administrations, questions have persisted regarding transparency, coordination, and the integrity of processes governing assets seized or forfeited through anti-corruption efforts, criminal justice actions, and administrative enforcement,” he said.
The lawmaker said the investigation would focus on establishing an accurate and verifiable record of assets held or managed by relevant government institutions, while determining their current status and how they had been utilised.
He added that the sub-committee also planned to establish a unified digital registry to improve record-keeping, facilitate information-sharing among agencies and address inconsistencies in existing asset records.
According to him, the proposed registry would enable authorities to track recovered assets from the point of seizure or forfeiture through custody, management, disposal or transfer for public use.
Osonwa said the panel would further examine existing accountability mechanisms and recommend reforms to address loopholes, strengthen institutional oversight and align asset management practices with relevant laws and international best practices.
“The sub-committee has the opportunity to recommend reforms that will close long-standing loopholes, modernise asset management systems, and reinforce Nigeria’s commitment to transparency and responsible stewardship,” he said.
He stressed that recovered assets should be managed in the public interest, including through restitution, reinvestment and other national development priorities.
The chairman announced November 2 as the date for the agencies’ appearance following a motion moved by Hon. Omosede Igbinedion and supported by other members of the sub-committee.
“Motion has been moved and motion has been supported, so we expect all these agencies: Nigerian Navy, Nigeria Customs Service, the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Nigeria Police and NMDPRA, and see them here on the 2nd of November,” he said.
Osonwa urged members of the panel to approach the assignment with diligence and objectivity, expressing confidence that the investigation would produce recommendations to improve inter-agency coordination and strengthen accountability in the management of recovered assets.
