How Obono-Obla Burnt His Fingers

By Editor

Chief Okoi Obono-Obla’s fall from grace as special assistant to the president on prosecution and chairman of the Special Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property, came after other members of the panel squealed on him, sources have revealed.

Obono-Obla’s case was not helped by the fact that the presidency decided to look beyond political considerations to take a second look on his WAEC result which was claimed to have been a forgery. He allegedly used the forged result to obtain admission into the University of Jos and upon that foundation also obtained admission to the Nigerian Law School.

It was learnt that the forgery allegation against him had been proved by the Independent Corrupt Practises and other related Offences Commission, ICPC which investigated the allegations raised against him.

His position, however, became more untenable following assertions by other members of the special committee alleging impropriety on the part of the chairman especially as he was alleged to have cornered investigations to himself and acted within his own remit without referring to other members of the committee.

After Obono-Obla first ran into troubled waters with the former attorney general of the federation, Abubakar Malami, in the first years of the administration it was gathered that he was made to rein in his zealous efforts which were sometimes not only said to be illegal, but also embarrassing to the government.

But no sooner was he warned that Obono-Obla sustained his efforts which made him enemies with senior administration officials especially aides of Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and the AGF, Malami.

It was based on these complaints that President Muhammadu Buhari was alleged to have referred the ICPC to investigate the allegations of impropriety and forgery levelled against him.

The ICPC report returned a verdict which became the killer blow that sent the out of office.

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