The suspended chairman of the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property (SPIP), Okoi Obono-Obla, on Saturday challenged the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) to make public the result of its investigation of him for alleged corrupt practices.
Obono-Obla, who was recently declared wanted by the ICPC, reminded the agency that it has exceeded the September 2019 deadline given it by President Muhammadu Buhari to submit its findings.
He spoke in an interview with The Nation where he vowed not to respond to the agency’s invitation, arguing that a competent investigative agency can conduct a perfect investigation in the absence of the subject of such investigation.
Obono-Obla regretted the manner he was treated by the Buhari-led administration and the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He described as untrue the allegation that he was parading a questionable academic credential.
Obono-Obla said: “I challenge the ICPC to tell Nigerians what they have against me. The burden is on ICPC, not me. I can say, without fear of contradiction, that I am a clean man.
“President Buhari, in the press release disbanding the panel (SPIP), directed ICPC to submit its report on its investigation on me to him since September. Why has the ICPC not submitted the report?
“The ICPC should submit the report. I don’t need to appear before it before the ICPC can investigate me. What has the ICPC been doing for the past three months?
“Yes, I feel really let down and betrayed. I wanted to make the difference in the fight against corruption. I gave my all, but unfortunately, I was betrayed. I really feel horrible.
“This government is not fair to me. I acquitted myself creditably and successfully in this exercise. Today, I have been abandoned by the same party that we worked tirelessly to build. I am being victimized and derided, because as always, I agreed to undertake a difficult and dangerous yeoman’s job as a loyal party man.
“I was not earning salary, but allowances, which was not regularly paid. The successes we recorded were down to the sacrifice and dedication of majority of Nigerians, who were happy with the work we were doing, dangerous as it was.
“In order for rational thinking Nigerians to begin to understand my pain, frustration and bewilderment at the unjust and ignominious treatment I am being subjected to, for simply doing a job I was given to do with utmost diligence and integrity, let me state here some of my sacrificial contributions to the putting together of this system, over which I am being vilified by people, who have been after my downfall since the President appointed me to serve the country.
