The Nigerian government is currently planning to strengthen laws to facilitate the recovery of stolen artifacts back to the country.
This was revealed by Olanipekun Olukoyede, the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Monday during the ongoing 6th Annual General Assembly of the Network of Anti-Corruption Institutions in Africa (NACIWA).
Olukoyede also mentioned that there are plans to enhance regional laws related to asset recovery.
In his opening remarks, the EFCC Chairman emphasized the importance of collaboration among anti-corruption agencies in the region to effectively combat corruption.
The meeting, themed “Implementing the ECOWAS Protocol on the Fight Against Corruption: Towards Strengthening Institutions for Regional Unity,” brought together representatives from 14 NACIWA member countries, including Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Guinea Conakry, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo.
Attendees included Vice President Kashim Shettima, Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Tuggar, Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi, heads of anti-corruption agencies, and representatives from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
It would be recalled that the Omo N’ Oba N’ Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II, CFR, and Oba of Benin received two looted royal stools from the German government.
According to historical records, these artifacts—bronze and wooden royal stools (Ekete), made during the reigns of Oba Eresoyen and Oba Esigie several centuries ago—were looted from the Oba’s Palace during the punitive expedition of 1897.
The artifacts were handed over to the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) on behalf of the Nigerian government by the German authorities.
The Director-General of the NCMM, Olugbile Holloway, made the presentation on behalf of the Federal Government on May 18, 2024, at the Oba of Benin’s Palace in Benin City.
