EXCLUSIVE: Why Buhari moved against Okoi Obono-Obla

Samuel Ogundipe

President Muhammadu Buhari has finally moved against Okoi Obono-Obla, more than a year after the head of asset recovery panel was first slammed with claims of certificate forgery, PREMIUM TIMES has learnt.


Multiple sources familiar with the development told PREMIUM TIMES the head of presidential asset recovery panel has been asked to vacate office with immediate effect. A police team has also been sent to seal off his office in Abuja’s exquisite Asokoro neighbourhood to prevent him from entering or tampering with records.

Mr Buhari acted on the outcome of an extensive investigation conducted into Mr Obono-Obla’s academic credentials by the anti-graft agency, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).


Multiple sources familiar with the investigation told PREMIUM TIMES the agency’s conclusion was that Mr Obono-Obla fraudulently squeezed himself into the University of Jos decades ago.

“He did not secure requisite academic credentials to enter the University of Jos to study law or the Nigerian Law School,” the report found according to sources. “He cannot build a career on fradulently-obtained credentials.”

Consequently, the ICPC advised the president to promptly relieve Mr Obono-Obla of his job after which its detectives would then take him into custody for prosecution, sources said.