The Initiative To Save Democracy
(ISD) has warned the sacked Chairman of the Special Presidential Investigation
Panel for the Recovery of Public Property (SPIP), Mr. Okoi Obono-Obla to leave
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo out of the affliction he brought upon himself.
“Okoi Obono-Obla has serious
allegations facing him, from bribery to extortion, to the forgery of
certificates; these are not matters that he expects Nigerians to wish away. Is
it not shameful that upon the raising of these serious allegations, Mr Obla has
blamed everyone else for his travails but himself? And then goes ambitiously
for the Vice President, accusing him of being the architect of his fortune.
This is puerile,” the group said.
The Initiative to Save Democracy
in a Statement issued by its Press Secretary, Peter Oladele stated that it was
dishonourable for a public servant to make senseless allegations of witch-hunt
whenever serious allegations were made against them while failing to answer the
substantial issues that were being brought forward.
“Obono-Obla has been accused of
blackmailing those he was asked to investigate by threatening and extorting
them. He was also accused of using the panel as a vendetta against his
so-called enemies. These are serious allegations that speak to the breach of
public trust by a public official. They are to be answered in fact and not by
chasing shadows and imaginary enemies.
“There are also allegations that
he had gone ultra vires. Obono-Obla acted in areas that were not within his
mandate. He broke the rules of his engagement in the most blatant and offensive
ways. The former Chairman had assumed prosecutorial powers that were not
conferred on him by any laws or any official declaration. He had began to
assume the role of the EFCC and ICPC and began taking matters to court,
meanwhile his task was strictly an investigative one. Even when he was called
to order by the Vice President, cautioning him that he was exceeding his
bounds, he still went ahead to continue in breach of the caution.
“Piles of petitions were received
against the excesses of the former Chairman accusing him of unprofessional
conduct and seeking for bribes. He was in fact accused of going to mark a
person’s house in preparation for seizure and reallocation because the person
had failed to give a bribe of Twenty Million Naira. And this is one out of
several. This is nothing short of dishonour and abuse of power and office.
“Now he blatantly accuses the
Vice President of being the orchestrator of his perils? This is nonsensical to
say the least. Mr Obla should take the high road, come out of hiding and face
the dividends of his misconduct in office.”
The group stated that public
officials must learn to act responsibly while in public office as they would be
made to account for their deeds once they are out.
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