Anti-corruption and law enforcement agencies in Africa have been advised to return stolen assets to the original victims of the crime upon recovery.

Executive Director, Civil Society Legislative and Advocacy Centre, CISLAC, Auwal Rafsanjani gave the admonition in Nairobi, Kenya, while speaking at the Global South Forum for Asset Recovery.

Rafsanjani, who also heads Transparency International in Nigeria, decried the practice of marginalising the original victims of stolen assets once these assets are recovered by governments across the continent.

Using the cases between the Federal Government of Nigeria and Delta State, as well as the mismanaged COVID-19 funds in Kenya as examples, the activist said if the trend was not addressed, such assets could be re-looted by officials who do not mean well for their country.

According to him, it was necessary for citizens of the states where the corruption originated to receive and benefit from the recovered assets, urging countries in the continent to emplace legal frameworks for the management of recovered assets.

This, he said, would encourage countries outside the continent where these assets are located to send them back to Africa.

He urged Nigeria’s law enforcement agencies to adhere strictly to the recently passed Proceeds of Crime. (Recovery and Management) Act, 2022 when it comes to seizures, confiscation and management of recovered assets.

Rafsanjani said although the law does not solve the issue of proper coordination; its provision that anti-graft agencies should operate a database for recoveries where citizens can know the status of seized assets was commendable.

He commended President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Assembly for the law, just as he warned that recovered assets should not be used for bogus projects that do not benefit the masses.

Rafsanjani said there was need for more cooperation between state and non state actors in asset tracing, repatriation and disposal.

The forum had representatives drawn from civil society organisations in Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, Kenya, Angola, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United State, France, Germany, representatives from the African Union secretariat, GIZ amongst others.