ICPC spokesperson, Rasheedat Okoduwa, while dismissing a press statement issued on social media and signed by Baba Isah, Esq., claiming to be representing other unnamed counsel to Obono-Obla, said every due process was followed in arresting and detaining Obono-Obla.
According to her, “In order to ensure he was not illegally detained while investigation was still ongoing, the Commissioned obtained a remand order from the Federal High Court, Abuja authorising his remand pending conclusion of investigation and fixing return date for 7th April, 2020. It is therefore not true as suggested in the press release that he is being illegally detained. His release now can only be approved by the Court.”
Part of her statement read that “the attention of the Commission has been called to a press statement issued on social media and signed by one F. Baba Isah, Esq., claiming to be representing other unnamed counsel to Chief Okoi Obono-Obla, the suspended chairman of the defunct Special Presidential Investigation Panel. Chief Obono-Obla was arrested on 20th March, 2020 by the Commission after many months of his refusal to honour the invitations of the Commission requesting him to appear for investigation on the allegations of sundry breaches of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 and other allied criminal statutes
“The Commission needs to put it on record that before his arrest, Chief Obono-Obla had been declared wanted and the relevant law enforcement agencies informed to arrest him if found.
“The 20th March, 2020 when he was eventually arrested by the Commission was a Friday and none of his lawyers came for him to have access as alleged in the press statement. Access to him would definitely have been granted if any lawyer had come on that day. Since the arrest, the Commission has allowed daily access to Chief
Obono-Obla by his wife and family members, who bring him food. From 23rd March, 2020 his lawyers, including a respectable Senior Advocate of Nigeria, have also had unencumbered access to him.
Furthermore, he received a visit from an Honourable Member of the House of Representatives.
“Chief Obono-Obla was granted administrative bail on conditions that the Commission considered appropriate and reasonable based on the circumstances of his disregard for lawful invitations which made him a potential flight risk
signaturetv.org/ Leadership