Special Presidential Investigative Panel for the Recovery of Public Property (SPIP) on Thursday, said corruption cases involving eight senators had been transferred to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) for investigation, Igbere TV reports.
Besides, the SPIP alleged that the accused persons suppressed facts concerning these properties in their assets declaration forms submitted to the CCB.
Igbere TV reports that Chairman of the SPIP, Mr Okoi Obono-Obla said during investigation, the panel discovered that the senators acquired properties beyond their legitimate earnings.
Obono-Obla identified those involved to include former Senate President David Mark; Senator Stella Oduah; Senator Hope Uzodinma; Senator Peter Nwaoboshi; Senator Albert Bassey and a Director in the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, Ibrahim Musa Tumsah.
Igbere TV recalls that the SPIP had before now, filed charges before the Federal High Court, Abuja against most of those named in the cases transferred to the CCB on the same issue of non-assets declaration.
Igbere TV learnt that David Mark has a suit pending before the Federal High Court, Abuja in which he is challenging the activities of the panel, particularly the SPIP’s claim that he unlawfully acquired his property in Abuja.
The charge the panel filed against Senator Oduah was assigned to Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, but no further steps have been taken by the panel since it filed the charge last year.
The charge against Uzodimna is before Justice Okon Abang. But the office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) recently took over the prosecution of the case from the SPIP.
The SPIP boss said the charge against Sen. Bassey is before Justice John Tsoho.
Many of those named in the cases have argued that the SPIP lacks the powers to initiate charges against them, citing the judgment of the Court of Appeal in the Tumsah case.
