Obono-Obla Is A Wanted Man, ICPC Declares

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has declared former chairman of the Special Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property (SPIP) Okoi Obono-Obla, a wanted man.

ICPC said it took the action due to his Obono-Obla’s “repeated failure to appear before it to answer questions bordering on allegations of fraud and corruption”.

Recall that Obono-Obla has been facing allegations of certificate forgery and other corruption-related charges.

“The Commission is in receipt of petitions accusing him of abuse of office, falsification of admission records, living above his income and collection of gratification from suspects under his investigation,” ICPC said in a statement on Tuesday.

“ICPC had conducted series of investigations on the allegations with preliminary findings showing that some provisions of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 and extant laws of Nigeria had been allegedly violated by Mr. Obono-Obla.”

While suspending Obla in August, President Muhammadu Buhari said the “suspension shall be in effect until the conclusion of ongoing Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission investigations into a number of cases relating to Mr. Obono-Obla.”

The suspension came after an extensive investigation conducted into Obono-Obla’s academic credentials by the anti-graft agency.