Senate Reopens Debate on Proceeds of Crime Bill Over Legal and Policy Concerns

The Senate has reopened deliberations on the Proceeds of Crime Act (Amendment) Bill, 2026, after unanimously reversing its earlier approval due to concerns over major legal, policy, and drafting shortcomings.

The decision was reached during Thursday's plenary following a motion moved by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, who explained that a post-passage review of the bill uncovered several issues requiring further legislative scrutiny before it could proceed.

According to Bamidele, the identified deficiencies are fundamental and, if left unresolved, could undermine the implementation of the proposed law and create unintended legal and operational challenges.

He stressed that revisiting the bill would ensure it aligns with Nigeria's constitutional provisions as well as international best practices on asset recovery and the management of proceeds of crime.

"The Senate is committed to enacting sound, coherent, and implementable legislation. Revisiting the bill is necessary to address the identified concerns and ensure it conforms with international standards and Nigeria's legal framework," Bamidele said.

The motion briefly sparked procedural concerns after Senator Yahaya Abdullahi questioned whether it had been properly listed on the supplementary order paper. However, Senate President Godswill Akpabio ruled that the motion complied with the chamber's Standing Orders.

Although Abdullahi later supported the review, he sought clarification on whether the revised bill would be returned to the relevant committee or handled by the National Assembly's legal department.

Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin urged lawmakers to back the motion, describing the review as a demonstration of responsible lawmaking rather than legislative failure.

Senator Abdul Ningi also endorsed the move, noting that reconsidering legislation after identifying flaws is a common parliamentary practice. He further recommended that the bill's sponsor, Senator Idiat Adebule, should play a leading role in refining the legislation.

Following a voice vote, the Senate unanimously approved the rescission, effectively withdrawing the bill's earlier passage.

Akpabio subsequently directed that the proposed legislation should not be transmitted to the House of Representatives until the identified issues have been fully addressed and the review process completed.

The bill, sponsored by Senator Idiat Adebule, seeks to establish an independent agency responsible for the recovery, preservation, management, and disposal of assets suspected to have been acquired through criminal activities.

Supporters believe the legislation would strengthen Nigeria's anti-corruption efforts by separating asset management from criminal prosecution, standardising the handling of forfeited assets, and creating a central database to enhance transparency and accountability.