Solicitor-General asks Obono-Obla panel to report pending cases

Indication emerged on Friday that the Solicitor-General of the Federation, Mr. Dayo Apata, had taken over the affairs of the Special Presidential Investigation Panel on the Recovery Public Property as directed on Wednesday by the Secretary of the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha.

Apata, who doubles as the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice, had on Thursday panel’s head of legal team requesting comprehensive reports on all cases instituted or involving the panel within 48 hours.

Saturday PUNCH, not TheNigerialawyer on Friday obtained the August 15, 2019 letter addressed to Dr. Celsus Ukpong who acted as the head of the panel’s legal unit under the Chairman of the panel, Okoi Obono-Obla, who was suspended by President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday.

Apata’s letter with reference number SGF/PS/SPIP/733 was titled, ‘Report on all legal prosecution and court processes’.

Meanwhile, the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission has dismissed its staff lawyer, Dr. Celsus Ukpong, who was on secondment to Okoi Obono-Obla-led SPIP.

Ukpong, who acted as the head of the panel’s legal unit, was dismissed by the board of the commission for allegedly refusing his recall from the SPIP and ignoring his posting to Sokoto office of the commission last year.

His dismissal letter dated August 9, 2019 was obtained by Saturday PUNCH on Friday, about 48 hours after Obono-Obla, was suspended as the Chairman of the panel.

The letter signed on behalf of the Secretary to the commission by the Director (Administration Department), Bala Mohammed, stated that Ukpong was recalled from the SPIP on October 2018 but refused to heed to the recall.