Olaniyan Advocates for Mandatory Asset Declarations in Nigeria

Kazeem Olaniyan, a professor and current dean at the College of Law, University of Osogbo, Osun State, has called for mandatory public asset declarations by governors, legislators, and judges in Nigeria. During his 8th inaugural lecture, he highlighted the inadequacies of the current asset declaration process, which relies on manual methods and lacks integration with databases such as land registries and bank verification numbers.

Olaniyan expressed concern that the existing system allows for the concealment of corrupt practices and undermines public trust in the justice sector. He referenced notable cases, including the trials of former Senate President Bukola Saraki and former Chief Justice Walter Onnoghen, to illustrate how the asset declaration law can be weaponized against political opponents.

He urged for amendments to the Code of Conduct Bureau Act to facilitate real-time verification of asset declarations and grant civil society organizations and the media the right to inspect these declarations. Olaniyan's proposals aim to enhance transparency and accountability among high-ranking public officials in Nigeria.