Th is week, Acting President Yemi Osinbajo established a Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property headed by the Special Assistant to the President on Prosecution, Chief Okoi ObonaObla. A statement issued by the Director of Press in the Offi ce of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Bolaji Adebiyi, said the panel was set up by the Acting President in line with powers conferred on the President by the Recovery of Public Property (Special Provisions) Act Cap R4, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004. Th e statement said the Acting President also approved the appointment of Mr. Akingbolahan Adeniran as the secretary of the panel.
Th e panel, it can be said, came rather too late, especially considering the eff orts invested by the present administration in its fi ght against all forms of corruption and illegal enrichment. Th e Act that gave rise to the establishment of the panel makes provisions for the investigation of the assets of any public offi cer who is alleged to have been engaged in corrupt practices, unjust enrichment of himself, or any other person, who has abused his offi ce or breached the Code of Conduct for Public Offi cers in the country. Still, it can be argued that it is better late than never. It’s now left for the government to ensure that members of the panel work in an eff ective, effi cient, honest, unbiased and impartial manner in order to ensure the success of the ongoing national war against corruption.
