A controversial bill seeking to allow public officers operate foreign
bank accounts passed the second reading at the House of
Representatives on Wednesday.
Under the extant Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, 2004, it is
criminal for a public officer to operate a bank account outside
Nigeria.
The bill that passed the second reading on Wednesday sought to
amend this law “so as to make the leave of the Bureau necessary for
a public officer to maintain or operate a bank account outside
Nigeria.”
One of the supporters of the bill, Mr. Bamidele Faporosi, argued that
the current law was “weak and ineffective,” as no public officer had
been successfully prosecuted for flouting it.
He explained that the amendment proposed included a proviso that
the public officer must get the approval of the bureau before opening
such an account.
He claimed that the disclosure would remove the secrecy surrounding
foreign accounts.
Faporosi argued further, “Today, people are operating such accounts
by proxy or even in the open because they know that nothing will
happen.
“This amendment says you can operate the account but this must be
with the leave of the bureau.
“People now know that there will be punishment for non-disclosure.”
Another lawmaker, Mrs. Aisha Dahiru from Adamawa State, told the
House that the secrecy surrounding foreign accounts encouraged “the
monumental corruption” in the country.
But some members expressed reservations, fearing that the proposal
would simply give public officers a licence to stash more government
funds in private accounts overseas.
For example, the Deputy House Leader, Mr. Leo Ogor, held the view
that the bill “stands logic on its head.”
He noted, “This amendment can actually encourage corruption rather
than reduce it.
“Why not say public officers should operate domiciliary accounts in
the country?"

www.punchng.com/news/reps-move-to-allow-public-officers-operate-foreign-accounts-2/

Makes no diff, let dem face beta tin, dey still use der stooges and fictitious names to operate foreign acc na