The Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) has partnered with the Federal Ministry of Justice to strengthen Nigeria’s framework for tracking and recovering stolen assets, as part of escalated efforts to combat illicit financial flows (IFFs) and corruption.
The collaboration was formalized during a strategic engagement visit by an ANEEJ delegation, led by Deputy Executive Director Leo Atakpu, to the Asset Recovery and Management Unit (ARMU) in Abuja.
In a statement made available to journalists on Friday, ANEEJ Executive Director, Rev. David Ugolor, explained that the partnership introduces a 10-month technical support initiative designed to fortify the nation’s asset recovery architecture. The project is backed by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).
According to the statement, the initiative will focus heavily on data analysis, tracking the implementation of the national Asset Recovery Framework, assessing compliance with Financial Action Task Force (FATF) guidelines, and generating evidence-based data for policy reforms.
During the session, ARMU officials identified the management of its Central Database—the critical tool used to track recovered assets nationwide—as an area requiring immediate technical intervention. In response, ANEEJ committed to deploying expert assistance through the consultancy component of the FCDO-backed project to upgrade and support the database.
Rev. Ugolor described the high-level meeting as highly productive, emphasizing that data-driven monitoring is crucial to making the country’s asset recovery processes transparent and aligned with international standards.
“We are encouraged by ARMU’s warm reception and commitment to working with ANEEJ to build a stronger, more transparent, and accountable asset recovery system for Nigeria,” Ugolor stated. “Together, we are turning data into action and strengthening the fight against corruption and illicit financial flows.”
The two organizations also resolved to utilize upcoming quarterly reports from the initiative to drive advocacy and deepen operational synergy with the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) and other strategic anti-corruption stakeholders.
With the 10-month timeline now active, the project is expected to deliver concrete recommendations to close existing loopholes in asset management, eliminate opportunities for the misuse of recovered funds, and enhance public trust in Nigeria’s anti-graft campaign.
