Okoi Obono-Obla, a special adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari, has been directed to henceforth “seek clearance” from the federal attorney general before granting any media interview or making press releases on official matters.
This follows a series of bumbling actions and interviews by Obono-Obla, including this one on the African Independent Television (AIT) in which the president’s adviser went through a meltdown on national TV.
The directive to Obono-Obla was issued in a memo by the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami on November 1, just two days after the embarrassing interview. Obono-Obla had also said in another interview that former pensions reform boss Abdulrasheed Maina had not been found culpable in any wrongdoing.
In the memo, Malami said Vice President Yemi Osinbajo had observed that the activities of the panel run counter to its term of reference.
Malami also stated that Osinbajo was concerned that the activities of the Special Investigation Panel on Recovery of Public Property which Obono-Obla heads contravened established administrative procedures and protocols in the civil service structure. He therefore directed that Obono-Obla should “henceforth desist from carrying out any operation in his capacity as head of the panel”.
“In the said letter, the Vice President expressed his concerns on the activities of the Special Investigation Panel on the Recovery of Public Property which runs contrary to the enabling Act establishing it. He also noted that the activities of the Panel run foul or contrary to established administrative procedures and protocols in the Federal Civil Service structure.
“In view of the foregoing coupled with the directives contained in the letter under reference, you are hereby directed to refrain from any further action or taking any step in your capacity as the Chairman of the Special Investigation Panel on the Recovery of Public Property with immediate effect until directed otherwise by His Excellency, the Vice President,” the letter read.
He was asked to cease further activities and await instruction from the presidency on the future of the panel.
Watch the video clip of his meltdown:
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