Many people who served in Obasanjo’s administration should rot in jail — Obono-Obla

Former Chairman of the Special Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property under President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, Chief Okoi Obono-Obla, has said that many people who served in former president Obasanjo’s cabinet are supposed to be in jail.

Obono-Obla, a lawyer was reacting to a recent comment by former President Obasanjo that some persons occupying positions in government should be in jail.

He however clarified that it may be wrong for him to make such a conclusion because mere allegations do not make one guilty until proven by a competent court of jurisdiction.

“So many people in Obasanjo’s eight-year presidency equally should have been in jail. However, as a lawyer, I can not subscribe to such fallacious arguments no matter how attractive they sound. “

The human rights activist contended that no matter how attractive suspicion is, it does not make someone guilty, “that is a fundamental principle of law.

“Having said that, I think it is in the realm of speculation or rumour-mongering to suggest so, and so a person ought to be in jail.

“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?”, he rhetorically asked.