The Ministry of Justice has announced plans to re-enact the Criminal Proceeds Recovery Act, aiming to strengthen the legal framework for confiscating assets linked to criminal activities.
According to the ministry, the current Act 30 does not grant the Attorney General’s office the authority to seize assets connected to criminal enterprises, limiting its ability to fully enforce criminal prosecutions.
Speaking during a visit by the Vice President on Thursday, February 5, the Attorney General, Dr Dominic Ayine, stated that the office is preparing a Criminal Proceeds Recovery Bill that will empower the Attorney General’s office to conduct both criminal confiscations and civil recoveries.
The ministry believes that the proposed bill will fill a significant legal gap, allowing the Attorney General’s office to recover assets more effectively, augment public resources, and ensure that criminal enterprises cannot benefit from illicit gains.
“I am putting together a bill known as the Criminal Proceeds Recovery Bill that would enable us not only to use, I mean, criminal confiscations but also civil recovery. Because in that way, the standard of proof is lower. It’s on the balance of probability, and it will enable us, if we link any asset to criminal activity, we will be able to apply to the court to confiscate it, and then we can augment our resources,” he said.
