Okoi Obono-Obla

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has declared former presidential aide, Mr Okoi Obono-Obla, wanted.

The spokesperson for the agency, Mrs. Rasheedat Okoduwa, in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday explained that the move followed Obono-Obla’s “repeated failure’’ to appear before the commission to answer questions bordering on allegations of fraud and corruption.

President Muhammadu Buhari had in August suspended the Chairman, Special Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property, Mr. Obono-Obla, “with immediate effect”.

In a letter dated Wednesday, August 14, 2019 and signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, Obono-Obla was accused of “falsification of records and financial impropriety”.

The letter from Mustapha conveying the suspension order to Obono-Obla reads: “I write to convey the directive of His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, for your suspension from office as Chairman, Special Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property with immediate effect.

“This suspension shall subsist until the conclusion of the ICPC investigations into cases of alleged falsification of records and financial impropriety against your person.

“You are required by this instruction to strictly observe and comply with the provisions of PSR 030405 (a-c) of the Public Service Rules. For the avoidance of doubt, the Solicitor General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice, shall be the authority to whom you shall report.

“Please accept my best regards”.

A House of Representatives ad hoc panel had before the suuspension alleged that the Yakurr Local Government of Cross River State-born Obono-Obla gained admission into the University of Jos to study Law with a forged ordinary level (WAEC) certificate.

The House panel had tendered that in the course of its primary assignment, it discovered that Obono-Obla may well have forged his way into the University of Jos.

Obono-Obla obtained a Law degree at the University of Jos and subsequently proceeded to the Nigerian Law School from where he was called to the bar.

Asides the charge of falsification of academic records, Obono-Obla has also been accused of abuse of office, intimidation, financial impropriety, among others.