According to a report by Vanguard, Okoi Obono-Obla, the former Chairman of the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property (SPIP), revealed in an interview on the Mic On Podcast that the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari shielded a former governor from prosecution over $200 million in offshore assets. This revelation has reignited discussions on corruption and accountability in Nigeria.
Obono-Obla recounted his experiences and frustrations while leading the SPIP, emphasizing several high-profile corruption cases and the government's lack of decisive action. One notable instance involved the discovery of 80 brand new armored S-Class Mercedes Benz cars, found in a single location in Jabi, along with houses, farms, and motorcycles. He questioned whether customs duties had been paid on these vehicles and found that they had not, and there were also no tax records for these assets.
The former chairman detailed the panel's proactive measures, including obtaining a court order to take custody of these assets pending further legal proceedings. He stressed the panel's commitment to ensuring due process and proper handling of the assets.
( Photo credit : Channels Television Verified Facebook Page )
Obono-Obla also discussed the investigation into offshore assets linked to a prominent former senator and governor. The panel discovered offshore properties worth over £200 million through the Panama Papers. Despite submitting comprehensive reports to President Buhari and Attorney General Abubakar Malami, SAN, Obono-Obla expressed frustration over the lack of action on these investigations.
His tenure as chairman ended on August 15, 2019, when he was dismissed by President Buhari's administration. The dismissal letter indicated that Obono-Obla would face criminal prosecution related to alleged financial misconduct uncovered by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). The letter also mentioned the possibility of the government requesting the University of Jos to withdraw his law degree and the Nigerian Law School to debar him from practicing law.