Assets of ex-presidents, governors not for the public - CCB- The Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) has said that it cannot publish the asset declarations submitted to it by former heads of state and governors - The CCB said that doing that will amount to violation of the privacy of such national personalities - The body was replying to the request by Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) The Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) has turned down the request by Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) to publish assets declarations submitted to it by former heads of state and governors since 1999. The CCB said that disclosing such documents is the same as encroaching into the privacy such national personalities, Vanguard reports. READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda The bureau, defending its position in a letter to SERAP, said: “Paragraph 3(c) of the 3rd Schedule to the 1999 Nigerian Constitution (as amended) empowers the Bureau to retain custody of asset declaration and make them available for inspection by any citizen on such terms and conditions to be prescribed by the National Assembly. These terms and conditions are yet to be prescribed. “Assuming the Freedom of Information Act is the term and condition, Sections 12(1)(v) and 14(1)(b) of the Act makes information in the asset declaration form private and producing such information would be an invasion of privacy of presidents and governors. Section 14(2)(3) of the same Act stipulate conditions for granting requests for private information but these have not been met by SERAP’s application. “Section 12(1)(a)(4)(a)(b) exempt production of information relating to investigation for the purposes of law enforcement and such investigation must have been carried out pursuant to an Act or regulation. Verification is investigation carried out pursuant to Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act for the purposes of law enforcement. PAY ATTENTION: Get the Latest Nigerian News Anywhere 24/7. Spend less on the Internet! “Referring breaches of the Code of Conduct for public officers to the Code of Conduct Tribunal for prosecution is a matter of discretion of the Bureau and not a matter of FOI.” Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that President Muhammadu Buhari had, in compliance with the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, submitted his assets declaration forms to the CCB. Legit.ng noted that submission of assets declaration form, according to Nigeria's constitution, must precede the president's oath-taking which is slated for Wednesday May 29. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng: Same great journalism, upgraded for better service! Why Governors Steal? Rochas Okorocha of Imo State | Legit TV Source: Legit.ng - The Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) has said that it cannot publish the asset declarations submitted to it by former heads of state and governors - The CCB said that doing that will amount to violation of the privacy of such national personalities - The body was replying to the request by Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) READ ALSO: PAY ATTENTION Legit.ng Legit.ng NAIJ.com Legit.ng