Mr. Murtala Aliyu-Kankia, the acting Chairman of the Bureau, made this declaration while overseeing the ongoing verification process of political officeholders and top government officials’ assets on Monday in Katsina.

Aliyu-Kankia said that the ongoing exercise is intended to include senior public officers and civil servants such as permanent secretaries, director-generals, directors, and other key officials within government entities.

According to him, government officials who are found culpable of assets’ non-disclosure or under-declaring will face the consequences of at least ten years from public office.

He said, “You know, some people tend to under-declaration, anticipatory declaration, and even non-declaration of their assets.  “To detect these three aspects, we go to the field to find out where someone under-declared, or in anticipation of getting something declared he has a property.

“All these are offenses.  The person found wanting would be referred to the CCB tribunal for prosecution accordingly.

“The punishment is either for him to forfeit the property, be banned from holding public office for 10 years, or be asked to vacate the office he is occupying.  “We are on course, we are doing it for the good of the country and the people,” he said.

Furthermore, Aliyu-Kankia emphasized that the bureau is collaborating with sister agencies such as EFCC and ICPC to sustain the ongoing fight against corruption in the country.

He highlighted that this initiative would enhance the anti-corruption efforts under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

Additionally, he mentioned that following the verification exercise, the bureau’s personnel would conduct on-site checks to validate the assets declared by the officers.

He, therefore, urged stakeholders to support the exercise to enhance the fight against corruption for the sustainable  social and economic development of the country.

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The monitoring exercise is consistent with President Muhammadu Buhari’s determination to leave a legacy of conducting the freest, fairest, and most credible election in the country’s history.

Professor Isah Mohammed, the bureau’s chairman, revealed this during a news conference in Abuja on Thursday.

He stated that the monitoring exercise, which will begin on Saturday, demonstrates President Muhammadu Buhari’s commitment to leaving a legacy of conducting the freest, fairest, and most credible election in the country’s history.

He added that the bureau would be working with relevant stakeholders to ensure it gets its desired results in the 36 states and the FCT.

“We shall observe whether or not a public officer in this exercise has put himself or herself in a position where his or her personal interest conflict with the duties and responsibilities assigned to him or her.

“We shall observe whether or not an officer in this exercise asks for or accept any benefit of any kind in the discharge of his or her duties.
“Observe whether or not officers in this exercise receive any inducement or bribe in the discharge of this exercise.

“And we shall observe or not a public officer in this exercise abuse his or her office or do any act prejudicial of the rights of any other person contrary to electoral principles and practices,” he said.

He added that those found wanting would be investigated and such cases would be referred to the Code of Conduct Tribunal for onward prosecution and conviction.