Obono-Obla to Obasanjo: Officials in Your Govt Deserve Jail Time Too

Chief Okoi Obono-Obla, the former Chairman of the Special Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property under President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, has stated that some individuals who served during President Olusegun Obasanjo’s tenure should be in jail.

However, Obono-Obla, a seasoned lawyer, clarified that it would be inappropriate for him to make such a definitive conclusion, emphasizing that allegations alone do not establish guilt without a court’s verdict.

Responding to recent remarks by former President Obasanjo, who suggested that some current government officials belong in jail, Obono-Obla remarked, “So many people in Obasanjo’s eight-year presidency equally should have been in jail. However, as a lawyer, I cannot subscribe to such fallacious arguments no matter how attractive it sounds.”

Obono-Obla, known for his human rights advocacy, stressed that suspicion, no matter how compelling, does not equate to guilt. “That is a fundamental principle of law,” he said.

He further questioned the basis of such claims, asking, “Was the allegation against such a person investigated? Was a prima facie case established against the person? Was he convicted before a court of competent jurisdiction?”

Obono-Obla’s remarks highlight the importance of legal due process and caution against jumping to conclusions based on mere allegations or suspicions.