The Vice President has ordered the immediate removal of the Special Adviser to the President on Prosecution, Chief Okoi Obono Obla as the Chairman of Special Investigation Panel on the Recovery of Public Property. The sack was contained in a statement issued by the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami on Sunday.
The statement claimed that Obla's removal was prompted by a memo from the Office of the Vice President claiming that his recent actions have breached the enabling act that necessitated the panel. In a letter to the President's aide, the AGF also directed Obono-Obla to refrain from granting interviews without authorization.
The letter dated November 1, 2017 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”
Attempts by Vigil360 to contact Obono-Obla failed as he neither answered the phone nor replied a text message sent to him.
