ICPC Arrests ‘Wanted’ Ex-SPIP Boss, Obono-Obla

Suspended chairman of the Special Investigation Panel on Recovery of Public Property (SPIP), Okoi Obono-Obla, has been arrested by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

Naija News reports that the Wanted Ex-SPIP boss was arrested by the anti-graft agency on Friday in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.

A report monitored on PREMIUM TIMES by Naija News said Obono-Obla, who was declared wanted by ICPC for allegedly refusing to honour its investigation, was picked up in an undisclosed location in the Federal Capital Territory.

The report said that the former special assistant to the president on prosecution who had in the past claimed he was not aware of his suspension, was undergoing medicals at the anti-graft agency’s headquarters in the capital city.

Confirming the development, Rasheedah Okodowa, ICPC spokesperson, said Obono-Obla was arrested Friday afternoon, “Yes, he is in our custody. Mr Obono-Obla was arrested a few hours ago in Abuja. Details will be communicated to the public,” she said.

However, The ICPC spokeswoman declined to comment on whether Obono-Obla was undergoing medicals, saying the agency has its own procedures for taking suspects into its custody.”
Removed by Buhari.

Meanwhile, Naija News recalls that in August 2019, President Muhammadu Buhari suspended Obono-Obla from office with an instruction that the suspension order took immediate effect.

In a letter dated, August 14, 2019, and signed by Boss Mustapha, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Obono-Obla was accused of “falsification of records and financial impropriety.”

The letter read in part; “I write to convey the directive of His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, for your suspension from office as Chairman, Special Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property with immediate effect.

“This suspension shall subsist until the conclusion of the ICPC investigations into cases of alleged falsification of records and financial impropriety against your person.

“You are required by this instruction to strictly observe and comply with the provisions of PSR 030405 (a-c) of the Public Service Rules. For the avoidance of doubt, the Solicitor General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice, shall be the authority to whom you shall report.”