Obono-Obla led Special Presidential Investigation Panel has gone rouge-reps say
From Kemi Yesufu
Chairman of the House ad -hoc committee investigating the legality and modus operandi of the Special Presidential Investigation Panel (SPIP), Rep.Aliyu Haman -Pategi has said the panel has gone “rouge”.
Pategi gave the damning verdict on the floor of the House on Wednesday, while presenting a motion seeking for more time for his committee to investigate the SPIP.
The lawmaker accussed the SPIP headed by Okoi Obono-Obla of going beyond the mandate given it by the Presidency by inviting all manners of people that are not relevant to its investigations.
Obono-Obla who is also Buhari’s Senior Special Assistant on Prosecution, was briefly suspended by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami as chairman of SPIP in November 2017. But he was restored to the position.
Pategi pointed out that amongst those that have been invited included Judges and the Auditor -General of the Federation, who were asked to declare their assets which he said is the function of the Code of Conduct Bureau.
He said the SPIP investigations has acquired “a questionable character ” as four members of the 5-member panel including the secretary is unaware of what the Chairman is doing. “They have gone rouge”, he opined.
The lawmaker further said the chairman of the SPIP “unilaterally hired consultants to go all over the world tracing people’s property,”
The lawmaker further diclosed that petitions have been sent to his commiiittee by Nigerians who are aggrieved, adding that the name of SPIP is being used to achieve personal ends.
He told the House that Obono-Obla may have decided to ignore the ad-hoc committee as he has shunned four invitations already and has also indicated he would be absent in today’s rescheduled hearing.
A letter seen by Frontline News Online dated 22nd May, 2018 and titled: “Re: Summon to appear before the address hoc committee on activities of the Special Presidential Investigation Panel” and signed by Chairman of SPIP, Okoi Obono-Obla reads in part : “I regret to inform the ad hoc committee of my inability to attend the Public Hearing slated for 24th May, 2018 as the burial ceremony of my sister comes up on that date.
“In view of the unforeseen circumstance, I wish to with all humility appeal for a new date, to enable me secure my attendance in the subsequent hearing session as may be scheduled.”
But the chairman of the panel told members that Obono-Obla has “ignored” four invitations and that “the House may invoke the relevant provisions of the Constitution to compel your attendance and for other penalties that may be necessary. “
Pategi while presenting the motion on Wednesday said:
“Recall that on Thursday, 27 March, 2018, the House constituted an Ad-hoc Committee to investigate the legality and modus operandi of the Special Presidential Investigation Panel (SPIP);
“Aware of the expansive nature of the assignment which include investigation on the deployment of personnel from various Agencies of Government and the Nigeria Police Force to the SPIP;
“Further aware of complaints from concerned citizens and petitions against the questionable conduct and character of the Chairman of the Panel;
“Desirous of the need to do a thorough job on the assignment with a view to getting all the material facts surrounding the matter so as to gather enough data and information for proper analysis and actions taken by the Panel.”
Pategi’s revelations on SPIP continued on Thursday with the lawmaker disclosing, that Obono-Obla has been using fake letter -heads to write banks, embassies, foreign governments, private companies and individuals.
Speaking with reporters yesterday, the lawmaker again described the conduct of the chairman of SPIP, “as unbecoming of someone that should hold such a high office.”
“From even the name, we have seen that the chairman had his own personal letter heades paper, using the seal of the President of the country as well as calling his own the Special Presidential Investigations Panel on Recovery of Public Property.
“Meanwhile, the Secretary of the panel and the other three panelists in a panel of five members have their own letter -heads. This is confusing in the extreme.
“And there are issues of probity, when someone in a panel that is purported to investigate other people is involved in underhand dealings, it leaves a lot to be desired.
“There are two letter -heads, and it’s been confirmed that the one the chairman is using is fake. The Secretary to the panel confimed that to us. This is part of several infractions.”
Be the first to comment