President Buhari has dissolved the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for Recovery of Public Property, (SPIP) headed by Mr. Okoi Obono-Obla.
In a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Communication, Femi Adesina, Buhari disclosed his decision to put an end to the controversial panel.
Vice President Yomi Osinbajo, in his capacity as the acting president, set up SPIP in August 2017, and appointed a 4-man panel, which Obono-Obla, who was then the Special Adviser to the President on Anti-corruption, was the head.
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Series of allegations of misconduct trailed the SPIP, in just 2 months after inception, prompting the vice president to write the panel a cautionary letter.
The letter did nothing to cautionary effect as complain of anyhowness continued to dent the image of the panel, especially, the chairman himself, Obono-Obla.
The vice president became worried that the Panel was flouting every rule in which it was established upon through its activities despite his repeated cautions.
In November 2017, President Buhari ordered Obono-Obla to stop every operation in his capacity as the head of SPIP, as investigation has commenced into the alleged excesses of the Panel. In December 2018, the Ad-hoc Committee set up by the House of Representatives to investigate the allegations called for the prosecution of Obono-Obla.
In the report submitted by the Committee’s Chairman, Aliyu Pategi, Obono-Obla was indicted for forgery and abuse of office.
It was based on these developments that the usefulness of SPIP came into serious questions. And evidently, the presidency believes it has overstayed its essence.
Therefore, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice has been directed to immediately take over all outstanding investigations and other activities of the SPIP.
Meanwhile, Obono-Obla is still under the investigation of Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), and President Buhari is looking forward to receive the report as soon as possible.