Private legal practitioner Lawyer Martin Kpebu is calling for a closer adherence to constitutional requirements surrounding asset declarations.

In an interview with TV3, Kpebu stressed the importance of ministers declaring their assets before being sworn in to uphold transparency and legal integrity.

“For those ministers who are yet to come, they should declare before they are sworn-in because the Constitution says before you take office,” Kpebu remarked, directly addressing the looming appointments in the wake of the recent elections.

“The Supreme Court says they can act as ministers for a reasonable time. Let’s emphasize this,” Kpebu continued, drawing attention to the flexibility allowed by the judiciary.

According to the Supreme Court, appointees can assume their roles as acting ministers for a period while finalizing their asset declarations.

“If you are acting, then we can take time to fill your asset declaration forms, etc., and then come and be sworn-in,” Kpebu added, suggesting that acting ministers could be temporarily placed in positions of authority while their asset declarations are processed.