President Buhari Dissolves Obono-Obla’s SPIP

President Muhammadu Buhari has dissolved the Okoi Obono-Obla led Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property (SPIP).

Naija News reports that the Special Adviser to President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, made this known in a statement on Tuesday, September 17.

The presidential spokesman said the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, has been directed to immediately take over all outstanding investigations and other activities of the SPIP.

Adesina said: “The panel was established in August 2017 by the then Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN to investigate specifically mandated cases of corruption, abuse of office and similar offences by public officers,” he said.

“President Buhari thanks all members of the dissolved panel for their services.

“The President looks forward to receiving the final Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) report on the ongoing investigations of the dissolved panel’s Chairman,” the statement added.

Naija News understands that the dissolving of the SPIP is coming after Obono-Obla was sacked in August, sacked as the chairman of the SPIP and asked to submit himself to the ICPC for interrogation over allegations of forgery and financial impropriety.

Obono-Obla refused to concede to the ICPC but sued the anti-corruption agency instead.

Apparently displeased with the development, Obono-Obla alleged that he was being persecuted for stepping on powerful toes while doing his job.

Meanwhile, Naija News understands that Obono-Obla was investigating some officials of the Petroleum Equalisation Fund (PEF) before his sack.