The Federal Government has explained its decision to suspend Chairman, the Special Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property (SPIP), Okoi Obono-Obla.
It said President Mohammadu Buhari decided to suspend Obob-Obla upon his receipt of an interim report from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on allegations of misconduct and abuse of office against the SPIP Chair.
A Deputy Director, Public Affairs in the Federal Ministry of Justice, James Odaudu said, in a statement on Thursday, that Obono-Obla trouble was informed by “series of petitions from legal practitioners, concerned public spirited citizens and public officers.
Odaudu said President Buhari has directed that the Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice, Dayo Apata to immediately take over the affairs of the SPIP.
The statement reads: “Following 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 Chairman of the Special Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property (SPIP), Chief Okoi Obono-Obla, President Muhammadu Buhari has directed his immediate suspension from office.
“The 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).”
