By Obeten Godfrey
Barrister Okoi Obono-Obla, the Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Prosecution has said that he is ready to contend with anyone who attempts to slander his image even if they are agents of Lucifer.
Mr. Obla stated this Monday, while reacting to a story allegedly published by The NIGERIAN PILOT that he collected NGN1.2 billion from former governors to stall their prosecution on corruption cases which he denied and said it was planted in a desperate and frenzied manner to impugn his integrity.
“A planted media story in a desperate and frenzied manner calculated to impugn my hard earned integrity will not cause me to back down. One of such stories planted by matrons and patrons of corruption enterprise is that I collected 1.2 billion (USD3,333,348 million GBP2,546,678) from politically exposed former governors. Gosh! The allegation is hollow as it is silly,” Obla wrote on Facebook.
He continued: “I am ever ready to contend with these agents of Lucifer and I have therefore instructed my lawyers to sue The Pilot and any media house that allows itself to be used to plant fake stories impugning my integrity.
“I repeat, defamers and slander mercenaries will not intimidate or deter me from carrying out my responsibilities. I was appointed to do a job and I remain committed to the trust shown in my appointment, my tasks at hand and most importantly my conscience,” Obla said.
He averred that the panel which has been the subject of his recent suspension has not even taken off and some people are so scared stiff that they plant such stories to cripple President Buhari’s anti-corruption efforts even as he wondered why he needs such an amount.
“What do I need such enormous amount of money for? I am a largely contented man. I also married a humble and God fearing woman who is an accomplished professional in her own right,” adding that; “I am content.”
Obla said he has been able to provide for his family and build houses in his home town Ugep, Calabar and Abuja from law practice and stressed that what he yearned for is to serve people which is why he elected to be a human rights activist and lawyer in 1991 when he finished his National Youth Service Corps.
Mr. Obla recently made headlines after the Presidency curtailed his media appearances and directed him to cease acting in the capacity of the chairman of the Presidential Committee on Recovery of Public Property.
Meanwhile, as at press time, CrossRiverWatch gathered that: Mr. Obla’s legal representative, Mr. First Isa has filed a lawsuit seeking NGN500 million (GBP1,061,116 USD1,388,895) in damages at the Federal High Court, Abuja as well as the retraction of the publication among others.
A date is yet to be fixed for the hearing, CrossRiverWatch gathered.
CrossRiverWatch’s Ukung Alawa contributed to this report.