Asset Declaration: Anxiety As Code Of Conduct Officials Storm Delta

BEVERLY HILLS, March 04, (THEWILL) – Anxiety and Apprehension have mounted the political atmosphere in Delta state as operatives of the Code Of Conduct Bureau, from its national headquarters, Abuja, stormed the state for asset declaration verification of political office holders in the state.

THEWILL learnt authoritatively that there have been apprehension in the Government House, Asaba, as the team's first point of call was Government House where they reportedly met with Governor Ifeanyi Okowa behind closed doors.

The team, which comprises operatives of Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), Department of State Security (DSS), as well as personnel of the bureau, is expected to verify the assets declared by Governor Okowa, his deputy and all political appointees, including those who served in the former administration of Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan who were reappointed by Okowa.

THEWILL couldn’t independently verify if Governor Okowa, his deputy and commissioners had all undergone the verification exercise as at press time on Friday, which is the last working day for the exercise.

The team had arrived the state late February and met Okowa who directed the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Festus Ovie Agas to issue a circular for all appointees to make themselves available for the exercise which is expected to terminate on Saturday, 5 March.

The source said that since the operatives arrived, there have been serious fear and apprehension among top government functionaries, some of whom were former appointees of the past administration who had once declared their assets.

Although the reason for the sudden verification exercise by the team wasn’t clear, sources revealed that it was targeted at some political appointees and top civil servants.

Sources hinted that the operatives had personally met with some top government functionaries in their various offices before they moved to their State Office located at the Federal Secretariat along Okpanam road, Asaba, the state’s capital.

It was gathered that as at Friday, many political appointees in the state were still jostling around to get all the relevant documents declared in their assets form for the verification exercise.

THEWILL gathered that all political office holders including Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Special Advisers to the governor were expected by law to present all relevant documents filled in their assets form including Title Deeds, Certificate of Occupancy, Sales Agreement in respect to buildings, farms, vacant lands and plots, Receipt of Purchase of Furnitures, Vehicles and other means of transportation, Certificate of Incorporation of Business, CSCS account statement on Stock and or share certificate, Statement of Bank Account, as at 1st July 2015.

Story by David Oputah