The House also urged the President to immediately dissolve the Panel headed by Obla, requesting that the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), be effectively utilized to perform the function meant for it in the anti-corruption fight. The House verdict was reached following the consideration and adoption of recommendations of an Ad-hoc Panel set up to investigate the legality and modus operandi of the SPIP as well as allegations of certificate forgery and corruption against the President’s Aide. It could be recalled that the ad-hoc committee conducted an extensive public investigation on the activities of SPIP in July this year. The exercise was essentially based on the allegations of corruption contained in the audit report of the Auditor-General of the Federation on the financial transaction of the Presidential Panel. Besides, there were also sundry cases of arbitrary use of powers and office of the Chairman by Obla and certificate forgery against allegation against him. Considering the recommendations contained in the report of the Hon. Aliyu Patigi-led panel in the Committee of the Whole presided by the Deputy Speaker, Honourable Yusuf Lasun on Thursday, the House also called the Independent Corruption Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), to prosecute him. Honourable Kingsley Chinda (PDP, Rivers), moved the motion on behalf of Patigi who was not present on the floor for the consideration of his report. He said: “That the House do consider the report of the Ad-hoc committee on the Need to Investigate the Legality and Modus Operandi of the Special Presidential Investigation Panel and approve the recommendations (Laid July 27, 2018). The recommendations included: “That the President should be urged to dissolve the panel in view of the arbitrary use of powers and abuse of office of the chairman. “That the Code of Conduct Bureau should be utilized for function the panel seeks to perform in the current anti-corruption drive. “That the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) should investigate the allegations of corruption contained in the audit report of the Auditor-General of the Federation on the financial transaction of the panel and prosecute the culprits. “That the Law Degree of Chief Okio Obono Obla, having been obtained fraudulently should be withdrawn by the University of Jos. “That the Body of Benchers should withdraw the call to bar certificate awarded to Ofem Okoi Ofem (now known as Chief Okoi Obono Obla) as it was based on the Degree which they obtained from the University of Jos through fraud. “That the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria should discharge Chief Okoi Obono Obla of his responsibility as Special Adviser and Chairman of the Special Presidential Investigation Panel (SPIP). “That Chief Okoi Obono Obla should be investigated by the Inspector-General of Police and charged to court for forgery and misrepresentation. “That the President of the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, the Director-General of Nigerian Law School, the Vice Chancellor, University of Jos, the Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF and the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN should ensure Chief Okoi Obono Obla is prosecuted,” it said.]]>

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