Declare Your Assets Now Or Risk Prosecution, Delta CCB Boss Tells Cabinet Nominees

ASABA, July 03, (THEWILL) - Commissioner Designates in Delta State have been asked to comply with the constitutional provision of declaring their assets before subscribing to the relevant oaths of office as members of the Delta State Executive Council.

Delta State Director of the Code of Conduct Bureau CCB, Mr. Anthony Onyeibe who gave the advice during an interactive session with journalists in Asaba weekend vowed to prosecute any public officer who violates the constitutional provision.

He explained that section 194 of the1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria made it mandatory for all public officers especially political appointees to declare their assets before and at the end of their appointment.

He made it clear that it would amount to an exercise in futility for any public officer of the cadre of commissioner to subscribe to the oath of allegiance and oath for due execution of his or her duties without, first, declaring his or her assets as prescribed in the 7th schedule to the 1999 constitution.

Section 194 of the 1999 constitution, 7th Schedule according to the director states, “A commissioner of the Government of a State shall not enter upon the duties of his office duties he has declared his assets and liabilities as prescribed in this Constitution and has subsequently taken and subscribe to the Oath of Allegiance and the Oath for the due execution of the duties of his office prescribed in the Seventh Schedule to this Constitution.”

Mr. Onyeibe therefore urged the commissioner designates and other public officers to comply with the constitutional provision to avoid a breach of section 194 of the constitution.