Senate rescinds passage of Proceeds of Crime Amendment Bill over drafting, legal flaws

The Senate has rescinded its earlier passage of the Proceeds of Crime Act (Amendment) Bill, 2026, after identifying drafting, legal and policy flaws in the proposed legislation.

The decision was taken during Thursday’s plenary following the unanimous adoption of a motion moved by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele. The bill had initially been passed on July 9.

Bamidele said lawmakers discovered significant shortcomings after the bill’s passage, warning that leaving the issues unresolved could undermine its implementation and create unintended legal and operational consequences.

According to him, the Senate resolved to revisit the legislation to ensure it aligns with Nigeria’s constitutional framework and international best practices on asset recovery and the management of proceeds of crime.

He urged the chamber to invoke Orders 1(b) and 52(6) of the Senate Standing Orders to reverse the earlier passage and allow for further legislative work.

The motion briefly generated procedural debate after Senator Yahaya Abdullahi questioned whether it had been properly listed on the supplementary order paper. Senate President Godswill Akpabio ruled that the motion complied with the Senate’s rules, while Bamidele clarified that Abdullahi’s concern was procedural rather than substantive.

Abdullahi subsequently seconded the motion, describing the review as being in the national interest, although he sought clarification on whether the bill would be returned to the relevant committee or referred to the National Assembly’s legal department.

Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin supported the move, saying correcting flaws before a bill becomes law demonstrates legislative diligence. Senator Abdul Ningi also backed the decision, noting that such reviews are common parliamentary practice and suggesting that the bill’s sponsor, Senator Idiat Adebule, should play a central role in refining the legislation.

Although some lawmakers proposed another public hearing if major amendments become necessary, Akpabio ruled that suggestion out of order, explaining that the Senate was only considering whether to rescind the bill’s earlier passage.

Following a voice vote, the Senate unanimously reversed its July 9 approval of the bill. Akpabio also directed that the legislation should not be transmitted to the House of Representatives until the review process is completed.

The private member’s bill, sponsored by Adebule, seeks to establish an independent Proceeds of Crime Recovery and Management Agency to oversee the recovery, preservation and disposal of assets suspected to have been acquired through unlawful activities.

Lawmakers had argued that the proposed legislation would strengthen Nigeria’s anti-corruption framework by separating asset management from prosecution, introducing uniform standards for handling forfeited assets and creating a centralised database to improve transparency and accountability.