$2Billion, Gold Bars Recovered From Jonathan’s Minister During Buhari’s Administration Unaccounted For –Obono-Obla

Former Chairman of the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property (SPIP), during former president Muhammadu Buhari’s administration Okoi Obono-Obla, has revealed a high-profile case involving the recovery of substantial funds and gold bars from a minister in the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

In an interview on Mic On Podcast by Seun Okinbaloye, Obono-Obla disclosed the details of the case brought to SPIP by Major General Adam Yusuf (Retd.)

According to Obono-Obla, Yusuf assisted the recovery of $2 billion and gold bars from the residence of a minister who served in former President Goodluck Jonathan's administration.

The whistleblower claimed he had an agreement with a senior government official, understood to be the late Abba Kyari, for a commission on the recovered assets.

Abba Kyari was the chief of staff to then-President, Muhammadu Buhari. He died on April 17, 2020, from COVID-19.

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"However, after the recovery operation, the money and most of the gold bars were not declared to the government," Obono-Obla stated. "Only 350 million gold bars out of 850 million were reported."

Obono-Obla further revealed that an investigation was launched under his leadership, led by an assistant commissioner of police who interviewed several individuals, including Shuma Zerebe from Anambra State, regarding the recovery operation.

"The testimonies indicated that substantial amounts were indeed recovered," Obono-Obla confirmed. "The operation was reportedly carried out by the Department of State Services (DSS). However, the custody of the recovered assets remains unclear."

Regarding allegations of under-declaration, Obono-Obla expressed concerns over discrepancies between the reported recovery figures and the actual sums and assets retrieved.

"We conducted a thorough investigation and found significant irregularities," Obono-Obla continued. "There appears to have been a deliberate attempt to misrepresent the amount recovered to the government."

When asked if further action was pursued against individuals involved, including Abba Kyari, Obono-Obla hinted at political constraints prevented taking any direct action against high-ranking officials.

"This case points to a complex web of corruption and cover-up," Obono-Obla concluded. "However, the intricacies involved make it challenging to pursue without risking political repercussions."

The allegations raised by Obono-Obla shed light on potential malfeasance in the highest echelons of government during the Jonathan administration, raising significant questions about transparency and accountability in asset recovery operations.

In August 2019, Okoi Obono-Obla, former Chairman of Nigeria's SPIP, was suspended by President Muhammadu Buhari over allegations of falsification of records and financial impropriety. 

The suspension, conveyed through a letter from the then-Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, directed Obono-Obla's immediate removal pending investigations by the ICPC.

The controversy stemmed from accusations that Obono-Obla gained admission to the University of Jos with a forged WAEC certificate and subsequently falsified records while in office. 

Additionally, his tenure at SPIP was marked by accusations of abuse of office, unauthorised investigations, and overstepping his mandate.

Critics, including members of SPIP, accused him of conducting over 50 investigations outside the panel's scope for personal gain.

Obono-Obla defended himself, claiming persecution for exposing corruption among powerful lawmakers. However, critics argue that his actions undermined the anti-corruption mandate of SPIP and raised questions about the sincerity of Buhari's administration in tackling corruption within its ranks.