Obono-Obla’s Sack: Apata Takes Over Presidential Panel
Sequel to President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive, the Solicitor General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, Mr. Dayo Apata, has assumed control over the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property.
A statement by the Ministry of Justice disclosed that President Buhari directed Apata to take over the affairs of the panel, following the suspension of its erstwhile Chairman, Chief Okoi Obono-Obla.
The President was said to had ordered Obono-Obla to immediately handover to Apata to await the outcome of investigation into series of petitions that were lodged against him by “legal practitioners, concerned public spirited citizens and public officers”.
According to the statement that was signed by the Deputy Director, Public Affairs, at the Ministry of Justice, Mr. James Odaudu, allegations against Obono-Obla bordered on “abuse of office, intimidation, unauthorized malicious investigation, financial impropriety, administrative misconduct and forgery/falsification of records”.
It further disclosed that his suspension followed 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.
