The Code of Conduct Tribunal has commenced efforts to secure the approval of the National Assembly to transform the tribunal into a full-fledged National Anti-Corruption Court aimed at accelerating the prosecution and determination of corruption cases in Nigeria.

The Acting Director of Litigation of the CCT, Yahaya Laraski, disclosed this in a statement on Monday while highlighting the achievements of the tribunal’s new leadership and outlining some of the challenges affecting its operations.

According to Laraski, the proposed transformation is being pursued through an Executive Bill with the support of the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

He explained that the proposed National Anti-Corruption Court would operate through seven judicial divisions located across the country, with 37 judges assigned to handle corruption-related cases.

“The new Chairman is pressing the National Assembly, through the Attorney General of the Federation and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, for an Act, as an Executive Bill, to change the name to ‘National Anti-Corruption Court’ as a full-fledged Court with seven Judicial Divisions across Nigeria, to be trying all cases of Anti-Corruption,” Laraski said.

He added that the proposed court would have jurisdiction to hear cases brought by anti-corruption agencies and other relevant institutions, as well as civil society organisations.

Under the proposed arrangement, agencies including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, Code of Conduct Bureau, Public Complaints Commission and National Human Rights Commission would be able to prosecute cases before the court.

Laraski further disclosed that the court would adopt a summary trial system designed to ensure that corruption cases are concluded within six weeks of arraignment.

“It will be a court of summary trial, whereby all cases must be dispensed with within a period of six weeks from the arraignment date,” he said.

CCT recovers two properties
Speaking on the tribunal’s recent achievements, Laraski said the new leadership had recovered two of its three estate properties which were allegedly sold illegally.

He identified the recovered properties as the official residence of the chairman and the North-Eastern States Zonal Office in Bauchi.

He also disclosed that the status of the tribunal’s chairman had been elevated to that of the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, while members of the tribunal now have the status of Federal High Court judges.

According to him, the tribunal has also created seven additional departments to complement its three existing departments.

Laraski said outstanding staff promotions had been implemented, while 13 new allowances had also been introduced.

He added that staff members had participated in more than 20 capacity-building training programmes within one year as part of efforts to strengthen the tribunal’s effectiveness.

CCT raises funding concerns
Despite the developments, Laraski identified inadequate case inflow and funding as major challenges confronting the tribunal.

He said the number of cases handled by the CCT depended largely on referrals from the Code of Conduct Bureau, limiting the tribunal’s ability to independently determine the volume of cases before it.

“The first is that inflow of cases to our Tribunal is determined only by the discretion of the Code of Conduct Bureau. Any case they want is the one we can adjudicate upon,” he said.

On funding, Laraski said the tribunal had faced difficulties accessing its approved N2bn budgetary allocation.

“There is gross inadequacy of funding because we hardly get the N2 billion budget funded by the government,” he said.

He appealed to the Federal Government to provide the tribunal with essential facilities, including furniture, information and communication technology equipment, vehicles and additional capacity-building opportunities for its personnel.

The proposed transformation of the CCT into a National Anti-Corruption Court, if approved, is expected to introduce a specialised judicial framework for corruption cases and potentially reduce delays in the prosecution of such matters.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the immediate arrest of Prince George Buchi Nwabueze following the discovery of another alleged fake government office operating within the premises of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF).

The President also directed the immediate suspension of three permanent secretaries allegedly linked to the circumstances surrounding the discovery.

The affected officials are M.S. Danjuma, Nadungu Gagare and Richard P. Pheelangwah.

The latest development was disclosed on Friday by the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr Musa Aliyu, SAN, while briefing State House correspondents.

Aliyu said the latest discovery was made during the commission’s ongoing investigation into fictitious government agencies and weaknesses within the public service.

According to him, the agency identified an entity operating under the name “National Brands Development and Made-in-Nigeria Special Project Office.”

The alleged office was reportedly allocated space within the premises of the OSGF despite not having presidential authorisation or the legal status required to operate as a government agency.

Aliyu said the discovery followed an earlier investigation into the alleged Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIFC), which President Tinubu had directed the ICPC to investigate.

He said the commission had briefed the President for the second time within two days as investigators uncovered additional details.

“The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has uncovered another fake agency and office operating under the name National Brands Development and Made-in-Nigeria Special Project Office, which has been illegally allocated office space within the premises of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.”

The ICPC chairman identified Prince George Buchi Nwabueze as the alleged promoter of the newly uncovered office.

Aliyu said investigators discovered that Nwabueze allegedly operated under several variations of his name.

These include George Nathan, George Nathan Nwabueze, Honourable George Buchi Nwabueze, Prince George Buchi Nwabueze and George Nwabueze.

The ICPC chairman also alleged that the promoter had active suspected collaborators within the OSGF.

According to the commission, the office was established and given official space without authorisation from the President and contrary to existing public service regulations.

Following the briefing, President Tinubu directed the immediate arrest of Nwabueze.

The President also ordered the suspension of the three permanent secretaries named by the ICPC pending further investigation.

Aliyu said:

“Mr President has directed as follows: the immediate arrest of Prince George Buchi Nwabueze; the immediate suspension of the following permanent secretaries; M.S. Danjuma, Nadungu Gagare, and Richard P. Pheelangwah.”

The ICPC chairman said the commission would continue its investigation and work with the OSGF to obtain information necessary to establish how the alleged fake office was created and allowed to operate within government premises.

The latest discovery represents a further expansion of an investigation that began after authorities uncovered the alleged fictitious Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council.

The self-styled Director-General of that organisation, Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, is currently facing prosecution over allegations including forgery and impersonation.

An interim ICPC report submitted to President Tinubu on August 6 after a 30-day investigation had already identified two other alleged fictitious bodies.

They were the FCT Investment Promotion Agency and the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency and Public-Private Partnership.

The newly uncovered National Brands Development and Made-in-Nigeria Special Project Office therefore becomes the fourth alleged fake agency or government body identified in connection with the broader investigation.

The commission is now examining how the latest organisation allegedly obtained office space inside the OSGF and whether government officials knowingly or unknowingly facilitated its activities.

The investigation is expected to establish the identities and roles of individuals allegedly involved, determine how the office gained access to government premises and examine any documents or financial transactions connected to its activities.

The ICPC has also continued discussions with officials of the OSGF as part of efforts to establish the circumstances surrounding the alleged unauthorised office.

Aliyu said the commission had comprehensively briefed the President on the latest findings and would proceed with its investigation.

The development raises fresh concerns about weaknesses in Nigeria’s public-service verification and administrative control systems, particularly where individuals or organisations allegedly present themselves as government-approved entities.

For the affected permanent secretaries, their suspension is expected to allow investigators to examine whether there was any administrative failure or misconduct connected to the allocation of government premises.

The ICPC has not yet announced the conclusion of its investigation, and allegations against the individuals involved remain subject to due process.

The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the final forfeiture of 48 properties linked to former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), to the Federal Government after ruling that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) established that the assets were reasonably suspected to have been acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, who delivered the judgment on Wednesday, held that the EFCC successfully demonstrated that the properties were not acquired from lawful sources of income.

The court further ruled that Malami, his family members, and other respondents failed to provide sufficient evidence showing the legitimate sources of funds used to acquire the assets.

The judgment marks a significant victory for the EFCC in one of its largest non-conviction-based asset recovery cases in recent years.

Court Rejects Challenge to Forfeiture

The final order followed months of legal proceedings after the EFCC secured an interim forfeiture order from Justice Emeka Nwite on January 6, 2026.

In compliance with the court’s directive, the anti-graft agency published notices in national newspapers, inviting interested parties to show cause why the assets should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.

Malami, alongside 14 family members and associates, challenged the interim order, questioning the jurisdiction of the court and insisting that the assets should not be forfeited.

However, after hearing arguments from both sides, Justice Abdulmalik ruled that the respondents merely claimed ownership of the properties without presenting credible evidence that they were acquired through legitimate means.

The court emphasised that under Nigeria’s non-conviction-based forfeiture framework, respondents bear the responsibility of demonstrating the lawful origin of assets reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.

University, Hotels, Radio Station Among Forfeited Assets

The forfeited assets span several states and include residential, commercial, educational and industrial properties.

Among the most prominent assets are Rayhaan University in Kebbi State, including its permanent and temporary campuses, the Vice-Chancellor’s residence and related university facilities.

Also forfeited is Rayhaan Radio in Birnin Kebbi, along with the Rayhaan Agro-Allied Factory, its processing plants, factory buildings, staff quarters and supporting infrastructure.

The court also ordered the forfeiture of luxury hotels, including Meethaq Hotels in Maitama and Jabi, Abuja, as well as the 131-room Zeennoor Hotel in Kano.

Other properties covered by the order include residential estates, luxury duplexes, commercial plazas, shopping complexes, warehouses, filling stations, agricultural land, hotels, office buildings and several undeveloped plots located across Abuja, Kebbi, Kano and Kaduna States.

Among the assets are Azbir Arena, hotel and commercial facilities in Kebbi State, shopping units in Wuse Market and Vegas Mall, Gwarimpa residential properties, and extensive parcels of land along the Birnin Kebbi–Jega Road.

One of EFCC’s Largest Asset Recoveries

The forfeiture represents one of the most extensive asset recovery exercises undertaken by the EFCC, involving dozens of high-value properties spread across multiple sectors, including education, hospitality, agriculture, energy, real estate and broadcasting.

The anti-graft agency argued that the assets were proceeds of unlawful activities and sought their permanent transfer to the Federal Government under Nigeria’s civil forfeiture laws.

Civil Forfeiture Different from Criminal Conviction

Legal experts note that the judgment relates to civil asset forfeiture proceedings, which differ from criminal prosecution.

Under Nigerian law, a court may order the forfeiture of assets reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities if respondents fail to establish their lawful origin. Such proceedings do not, on their own, amount to a criminal conviction.

The court stressed that ownership alone is insufficient to defeat a forfeiture application where the lawful source of funds used to acquire the assets cannot be satisfactorily explained.

The EFCC has consistently maintained that non-conviction-based forfeiture remains a vital tool in Nigeria’s fight against corruption, allowing the recovery of assets believed to have been acquired through illicit means while separate criminal proceedings, where applicable, continue before the courts.