The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, said the House would ensure that assets seized by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC) were properly managed.
Tambuwal made this known at a three-day investigative hearing on Monday in Abuja.
The hearing organised by the Committee on Drugs, Narcotics and Financial Crimes, was to unravel the status of assets seized and sold by the EFCC since its establishment.
The speaker said that the House had a responsibility to ensure that the assets seized and sold through forfeiture court orders were prudently managed.
“My dear colleagues, we cannot allow a situation whereby over 400 cars seized through the diligence of the EFCC for instance continue to waste away.
“We have a vicarious responsibility to ensure that the assets seized through forfeiture, court orders are prudently and carefully manage.
“This is to avoid waste and to ensure that the assets are maximally disposed of for the benefit of the public,” he said.
According to him, this is why the House has resolved to carry out this investigative hearing, as it is not enough to just seize assets.
“We need to ensure that they are quickly utilised as part of the restitution for the original crime,” Tambuwal said.
Earlier, Rep. Jagaba Adams (PDP-Kaduna) Chairman of the Committee on Drugs, Narcotics and Financial Crimes, said that the investigation was premised on a mandate given to the committee.
He said that the committee had earlier in the “spirit” of giving a fair hearing called for memorandum from the general public.
Adams also said that the committee equally reached out to more than 200 key stakeholders with a view to getting their side of the story.
He said that in spite of the enthusiasm of the general public; the committee however, faced some challenges, because some of the organisations and individuals reached were not forthcoming in their responses.
“The committee realised that in spite of these challenges, we owe Nigerians a duty to make government and it’s agencies to render accounts of its deeds and misdeeds.
“The results of which will make the elected representatives to form their opinion and make necessary recommendations,” he said.
He assured stakeholders and other Nigerians that the House committee would do a “thorough” job as all memoranda and personal submissions would be studied and recommendations made.
