One of the most vocal aides of President Buhari has been punished over some administrative issues in the Ministry of Justice.
Chief Okoi Obono-Obla
The Federal Government has suspended Chief Okoi Obono-Obla as Chairman of the Special Investigation Panel on the Recovery of Public Property.
The
Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr.
Abubakar Malami, SAN, in a statement on Sunday, said that recent actions
of Obono-Obla who is equally an aide to President Muhammadu Buhari on
prosecution, ran contrary to the enabling act that established the
panel.
Consequently, the AGF directed Obono-Obla to “henceforth desist from carrying out any operation in his capacity as head of the panel”.
Obono-Obla
was notified of his suspension via a letter dated November 1 with file
number HAGF/SH/2017/VOL/1/60, which was signed by the AGF.
In
the letter, Malami maintained that activities of the panel contravened
established administrative procedures and protocols in the nation’s
civil service structure.
He warned Obono-Obla to
strictly comply with FG’s directive that he should hands-off from
further presiding over any activity in the name of the panel.
Obono-Obla
was also barred from further granting press interviews without firstly
securing permission to speak on any official matter.
“Obla
is also instructed to henceforth seek clearance from the AGF before
granting any media interview or making press releases on official
matters, while he is directed to promptly provide a detailed up-to-date
report on the activities of the panel to the Minister for onward
transmission to the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo.
Malami’s letter titled, ‘RE: Directive In Respect of Chief Okoi Obono-Obla, Chiarman of the Special Investigation Panel on the recovery of public property’, was said to be a follow-up to a previous letter from the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.
According to the statement, Malami’s letter to Obono-Obla read:
“I have received a letter Ref. SH/OVP/DCOS/FMJ/0424 dated 20thOctober,
2017 in respect of the above subject from the Office of the Vice President.
“In the said letter, the Vice President expressed his concerns on the activities of the Special Investigation Panel on the Recovery of Public Property
which runs contrary to the enabling Act establishing it. He also noted
that the activities of the Panel run foul or contrary to established
administrative procedures and protocols in the Federal Civil Service
structure.
“In view of the
foregoing coupled with the directives contained in the letter under
reference, you are hereby directed to refrain from any further action or
taking any step in your capacity as the Chairman of the Special Investigation Panel on the Recovery of Public Property with immediate effect until directed otherwise by His Excellency, the Vice President.
“While
you are to await further instructions in respect of the Panel’s
mandate, you are hereby directed to promptly provide a detailed
up-to-date report on the activities of the Panel to the undersigned for
onward transmission to the Vice President.
“Furthermore,
you are required to henceforth seek clearance from the Honourable
Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice before
granting any media interview or making press releases on official
matters.
“While appealing
for immediate and strict compliance with the contents of this letter,
please, accept the assurances of my warm regards and best wishes”.
Source: Vanguard
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