The Senate on Thursday passed a bill seeking to establish an independent agency that will oversee the recovery, preservation, management and disposal of assets linked to unlawful activities, in a move aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s anti-corruption framework and improving transparency in the handling of recovered properties.

The upper chamber also approved the Legal Practitioners Act (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill, 2026, after adopting reports presented by the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters during plenary.

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The two bills—the Proceeds of Crime Act (Amendment) Bill, 2026, and the Legal Practitioners Act (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill, 2026—scaled third reading following the Senate’s consideration of recommendations submitted by the committee.

Presenting the reports, Chairman of the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Senator Adeniyi Adegbonmire, said the Legal Practitioners Bill is designed to replace the existing Legal Practitioners Act with a modern legal framework capable of strengthening the regulation of Nigeria’s legal profession.

According to him, the proposed legislation seeks to enhance professional standards while ensuring the legal regulatory system reflects current realities.

Adegbonmire noted that the committee subjected the bill to extensive scrutiny because of its importance to the nation’s justice system.

He described the legal profession as the guardian of the rule of law, stressing that the framework governing it must inspire confidence among practitioners and the public.

Speaking on the Proceeds of Crime Act (Amendment) Bill, the senator said the legislation addresses long-standing concerns over the management of assets recovered from criminal activities by creating a dedicated agency to oversee the process.

He explained that the proposed agency would be responsible for recovering, preserving, managing and disposing of properties reasonably suspected to have been acquired through unlawful activities, describing the initiative as a critical step in strengthening Nigeria’s anti-corruption architecture.

Following the consideration of the reports, the Senate dissolved into the Committee of the Whole, adopted the recommendations clause by clause and passed both bills through a voice vote.

Reacting to the passage of the Proceeds of Crime Act (Amendment) Bill, Senate President Godswill Akpabio said the proposed agency would ensure that recovered assets are managed transparently for the benefit of Nigerians.

He added that the Senate acted in the public interest by concluding work on legislation expected to improve accountability in the management of recovered properties.

The development comes amid growing concerns over the custody, maintenance and disposal of assets recovered by anti-graft agencies, with stakeholders calling for a centralised framework to eliminate abuse, duplication of responsibilities and deterioration of seized properties.

Both bills will now be transmitted to the House of Representatives for concurrence before being forwarded to President Bola Tinubu for assent.

The Oyo State Police Command has arrested four suspects in connection with the violent unrest that rocked the Ojoo community in Akinyele Local Government Area of the state, leaving several people dead and many others injured.

In a statement issued on Thursday by the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Olayinka Ayanlade, the command said the suspects have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Iyaganku, Ibadan, where a comprehensive investigation is ongoing.

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According to the police, investigators are working to uncover the circumstances surrounding the alleged attempted robbery, the mob action that followed, the public disturbance and every other criminal act linked to the incident.

The command strongly condemned jungle justice, warning residents against taking the law into their own hands. It stressed that anyone suspected of committing a crime should be handed over to law enforcement agencies for proper investigation and prosecution.

Police also appealed to residents to remain calm, peaceful and law-abiding, urging community leaders, youth groups and other stakeholders not to allow criminal elements exploit the incident to trigger ethnic or communal violence.

The command assured the public that adequate security has been deployed across Ojoo and other strategic locations in Ibadan to prevent any further breakdown of law and order, while promising that everyone found culpable would face prosecution.

The unrest reportedly began after a commercial tricycle rider was allegedly attacked during a dispute over a failed Point-of-Sale (POS) transaction caused by network issues. Eyewitnesses said the rider had withdrawn cash but the payment could not be confirmed immediately due to poor network service.

Despite reportedly handing over his tricycle keys and mobile phone as assurance that he would not flee, the rider was allegedly assaulted and stabbed.

He later died in hospital, triggering protests and violent clashes involving sympathisers and other groups.

The violence, which spread from Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, reportedly claimed about four lives, injured several others and forced traders around the popular Ojoo Motor Park to shut down their businesses.

During an assessment visit on behalf of Governor Seyi Makinde, Deputy Governor Bayo Lawal described those behind the unrest as criminals, insisting that criminality has no ethnic identity.

He appealed to residents, especially youths, to embrace peace and allow security agencies to restore order, assuring them that everyone involved in the violence would be identified and prosecuted regardless of ethnic background.

Lawal also reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to conducting a thorough investigation into both the immediate and remote causes of the crisis to ensure justice for victims and prevent a recurrence.

Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Policy Communications, has said many Nigerians who relocated abroad in search of better opportunities are now trapped in what he described as “modern-day slavery,” despite earning salaries in foreign currencies.

Speaking during an interview on The Morayo Show, Bwala argued that the popular belief that relocating overseas automatically guarantees a better life does not reflect the reality faced by many Nigerians, particularly those living in the United Kingdom.

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According to him, many Nigerian graduates who left the country under the popular “Japa” trend now work in care homes, warehouses and other jobs unrelated to their university qualifications.

Bwala said that although many of them earn between £2,600 and £2,800 monthly, the high cost of living abroad leaves them with little money after paying rent, transportation, utility bills, internet services and feeding expenses.

“As far as I am concerned, it is modern-day slavery,” he said.

The presidential aide explained that the financial burden often compels many migrants to take up two or three jobs just to make ends meet.

He further argued that some Nigerians earning modest incomes at home may enjoy a better quality of life than their counterparts abroad because of stronger family and community support systems.

“Some of you in Nigeria who think you are suffering are better off than your colleagues that japa five years ago,” Bwala said.

He added that someone earning ₦60,000 monthly in Nigeria could still receive financial or emotional support from relatives and friends during difficult times, unlike many Nigerians abroad who have no immediate support network.

Bwala’s comments come amid continued debate over the increasing wave of migration by young Nigerians seeking better economic opportunities overseas.

While many continue to pursue the “Japa” dream, his remarks have reignited discussions over the financial and emotional realities of life abroad.

His comments are expected to generate mixed reactions, with supporters agreeing that the rising cost of living in many developed countries has reduced disposable income, while critics may argue that migration still offers long-term opportunities unavailable in Nigeria.