ABUJA/Nigeria: The Integrity Youth Alliance has said that Corruption is fighting back in the country and there is urgent need to address it on time.
Reacting to a publication in the media that the Chairman, Special Presidential Investigation Panel, Okoi Obono-Obla forged his West African Examination Council certificate, the National Coordinator of Integrity Youth Alliance, Kelvin Adegbenga said that issues surrounding use of genuineness of educational qualifications to counter an entity deemed as a political enemy is not new, especially the case of WAEC result. President Muhammadu Buhari had his fair share and was challenged as such. An important question to ask is ‘why the school result verification process usually conducted in institutions not reveal the forgery if the result was altered as alleged?’
“Okoi Obono-Obla, Chairman, Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property is a known lawyer, writer and front line human right activist and anti-corruption crusader. He is known for voluntary legal service since the 90’s.
“He represented victims of Human Rights violation and provide legal advice for individuals and NGOs free of charge.
Adegbenga said the blackmailing of Obla is coming from those who are having high corruption cases such as the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ekweremadu. Senator Ekweremadu had tried to delist many of his luxurious properties from his declared assets submitted to the Code of Conduct Bureau before running for elections. A list of non-declared properties revealed he own properties in Dubai, UK and US.
It would be recalled that the Senator Ekweremadu in February 2018 was reported to have sold two of his US properties that was acquired in 2008 at the rate of $200,000 each and sold for $150,000 each in February 2018 as reported by an online medium; Sahara Reporters.
“We wonder why Senator Ekweremadu is putting up his properties on sale at giveaway prices at this period if he truly had obtained these properties in a rightful way, Adegbenga said.
“It will be recalled that Deputy Senate President, Senator Ekweremadu in a statement early this year claimed that Mr. Obono-Obla in connivance with a former Chief Judge of Enugu State, Innocent Umezulike, and a lawyer, Tagbo Ike, broke into the probate registry to steal his will.
Adegbenga further said that Nigerians can now see where the alleged case of altered West African Examination Council result is coming from as anyone who tries to bring corrupt public officers to book will get counterattack.
On a final note, we wish to warn corrupt official that no matter the position they hold in the society, they will surely be brought to Justice no matter the blackmail and attacks on the person of Mr Obono, who is doing perfectly as the Chairman, Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property, the statement concluded.
