In a startling revelation, the former Chairman of the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property (SPIP), Okoi Obono-Obla, has accused the government of former President Muhammadu Buhari of shielding a former governor from prosecution over $200 million in offshore assets.
Obono-Obla made these allegations during an interview on the Mic On Podcast, where he expressed his frustration over the lack of decisive action against high-profile corruption cases.
Extravagant Assets and Tax Evasion
Highlighting the magnitude of corruption he encountered, Obono-Obla recounted a specific case involving the recovery of extravagant assets.
“For instance, there was this case where somebody had 80 brand new armored S-Class Mercedes Benz cars, along with houses, farms, motorcycles, and more, all discovered in a single location in Jabi,” he said.
Upon questioning whether customs duties were paid on these vehicles, it was revealed that they had not been. Obono-Obla added, “I wrote to the Federal Inland Revenue Service about these assets, questioning if taxes were paid. They confirmed no records of tax payments.”
Offshore Assets Investigation
Obono-Obla also revealed efforts to investigate offshore assets linked to a former senator and governor. “Through the Panama Papers, we discovered offshore properties worth over £200 million belonging to a prominent former governor and senator,” he disclosed.
Government Inaction and Personal Repercussions
The former SPIP chairman submitted detailed reports of these findings to President Buhari and the Attorney General, Abubakar Malami, SAN. Despite these efforts, Obono-Obla noted a lack of decisive action from the government.
Obono-Obla was reportedly sacked on August 15, 2019, during the Buhari administration. His dismissal letter indicated that he would face “criminal prosecution on matters related to his alleged financial dealings, as uncovered by the ICPC upon investigation.”
The letter further stated, “The government may ask the University of Jos to withdraw his law degree and the Nigerian Law School to debar him from practice.”
Reflection on Corruption Fight
Obono-Obla’s revelations cast a shadow on the Buhari administration’s anti-corruption stance, raising questions about the selective prosecution of corruption cases.
His experience underscores the challenges and frustrations faced by officials tasked with combating corruption in high places.
The allegations and Obono-Obla’s subsequent sacking illustrate the complexities and political intricacies involved in Nigeria’s fight against corruption.
