Presidency may prosecute Chairman of the Special Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property, Chief Okoi Obono-Obla for alleged forgery, tje Banguard is reporting.
According to the newspaper, a Presidency Source had said that the Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary Ministry of Justice, had delivered a letter of sack to Chief Obla on the orders of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Chief Obla had recently alleged that some highly placed people in the government had been plotting to remove him as Chairman of the Assets Recovery Panel because of his refusal to drop investigation of corrupt practices against them.
Obla specifically alleged that the Deputy Chief of Staff, Office of the Vice President had in January, written him to stop all investigations his panel was handling, as the government was going to embark on reform of the panel.
He also claimed that some interest groups in the government had pressurized his panel to drop investigations bordering on corruption issues that involve some members of the ruling party.
Vanguard further reported a Presidency source had said that Obla may face criminal prosecution on matters related to his alleged financial dealings, as uncovered by the ICPC upon investigation.
Besides, he may face prosecution with regard to his academic credentials, specifically the WAEC Certificate issue.
According to the source, “Government may ask the University of Jos to withdraw his law degree and the Nigerian Law School to debar him from practice. ”
This is owing to the conclusion of the ICPC investigation, the recommendations of which were approved in full by President Buhari.”
When contacted for confirmation of Chief Obla’s sack and possible prosecution, the Presidential Spokesman, Mallam Garba Shehu said he was not briefed on the issue and asked that press enquiries be directed to the SGF.
But another media source said Mr Obono-Obla’s suspension letter was signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha The letter by Mr Mustapha indicated that while Mr Obono-Obla remained on suspension, the Solicitor General of the Federation, Dayo Apata, would take charge of the panel on recovery of public property. Other members of the panel will, however, remain in office. The SGF office has since sent messages to Mr Obono-Obla to come and pick up his suspension letter.
