In a statement yesterday, signed by the Executive Director of the group, Mr. Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA called for an urgent investigation into the allegation by presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, that some members of President Muhammadu Buhari’s family own a substantial share in multi-billion naira telecoms giant, Etisalat Nigeria, adding that the group is already in talks with 35 civil society groups headed by persons of unimpeachable characters. It added that these people would launch a comprehensive but forensic probe through the use of investigative skills of some stakeholders and the legal framework such as the Freedom of Information (FoI) Act. Besides, the group has also criticised Buhari’s administration for condoning ostensible certificate forgers in its administration.It said that the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Prosecution, Mr. Okoi Obono Obla, remained in public service even when statutory bodies had certified that he forged his credentials. Mr. Obla cannot hide under political godfathers to fail to clear the grave allegation that he forged his WAEC. We dismissed his numerous court cases as time-wasting gambits aimed at buying time and to confuse the gullible Nigerians contrary to a clear testimony made before the House of Representatives by the statutory body responsible for issuing the said certificate, which he allegedly mutilated.”HURIWA, therefore, expressed the optimism that legal actions would be taken soon to get to the roots of the grave allegations just as it states that Obono Obla cannot enjoy the protection of powerful political forces for too long.

Source: The Guardian January 03, 2019 03:56 UTC