Handover To Solicitor General, Face ICPC Prosecution, President Buhari Orders Obono-Obla

Mr Okoi Obono-Obla

By CLEMENT NWOJI, Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the sacked Chairman of the Special Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property (SPIP), Chief Okoi Obono-Obla, to handover to the Solicitor General of the Federation, Dayo Apata.

He further directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to conclude its investigation of Obono-Obla and prosecute him.

The sack of Obono-Obla and subsequent directive of President Buhari follows the crisis arising from series of petitions from legal practitioners, concerned public spirited citizens and public officers, alleging abuse of office, intimidation, unauthorized malicious investigation, financial impropriety, administrative misconduct and forgery/falsification of records by the erstwhile Chairman of the Special Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property (SPIP), Chief Okoi Obono-Obla.

According to a statement by the Deputy Director, Public Affairs, James Odaudu, Obono-Obla’s suspension follows the receipt and consideration of the interim investigative report of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on the matter.

The President has also directed that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) should conclude its investigations and proceed to prosecute Chief Okoi Obono-Obla.

Meanwhile, the Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice, Dayo Apata, Esq. has been directed to immediately take over the affairs of the Special Investigative Panel (SPIP).