The former second Vice President of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr Adekunle Ojo, on Wednesday supported the campaign for the establishment of a law that will make it mandatory for public office holders to declare their assets before they assume office.
Giving his opinion on the issue about public holders not declaring their assets before the Code of Conduct Bureau, Mr Ojo said that people with a genuine intention of fighting corruption should not shy away from declaring their assets before they assume positions of leadership.
Mr Ojo said: “I think basically, we are looking at transparency and accountability and the whole essence of all the declaration of asset is to know what you have before you vie for a public office and while in the office.
“Whoever becomes a public officer has naturally come into the public domain and whatever you are shouldn’t be shrouded in secrecy. To that extent, the law as it is today, does not provide for a compulsory publication of assets and liabilities.
“Some people were elected when they had nothing and while they are leaving the office, they had become men of great opulence and influence in the society.
“If we are crying that the bane of our retardation in this country is that corruption has eaten too deep into our fabrics, then what stops a public officer from saying this is what I have and make it public? He questioned.
Mr Ojo pointed out that although the law had not stipulated that all public office holders must declare the assets, he insisted that there was nothing wrong in having a law to back such position up.
