‘My security risk is Ultra High’ – Special Prosecutor

The Special Prosecutor has made a chilling revelation about the grave dangers that come with his role, stating emphatically that his security risk is “ultra high.”

Speaking at the Constitution Day Public Lecture, the Special Prosecutor painted a stark picture of the perils faced by himself and his team in their relentless fight against corruption.

“The position of Special Prosecutor is a thankless job. It fetches you droves of enemies daily and brings you into direct confrontation with the lowest forms of debasement in humans. You do not go asking for it; it finds you,” he stated, underscoring the precarious nature of his work.

“The paradox surrounding the role of the Special Prosecutor is evident: while the public clamors for accountability and the eradication of corruption, resistance surfaces the moment the scrutiny is directed at particular individuals or groups.

“Everyone wants the Special Prosecutor to do his job, yet no one wants the Special Prosecutor to do his job. It all depends on the subject of the investigation,” he remarked, highlighting the entrenched reluctance to submit to the mechanisms of justice.

According to the Special Prosecutor, the backlash from corruption investigations is fierce and unrelenting.

“Though we accept that we need to rein in corruption, no one wants to yield freely to scrutiny. No one happily accedes to indictment. No one welcomes investigations. No one wants to be called out as a suspect in corruption-related activities. And so, there is always a strong pushback, intended to deflect focus from scrutiny and accountability,” he said.

That pushback, he noted, manifests in various ways, including orchestrated attacks, smear campaigns, and vile publications aimed at discrediting the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).

More worrying, according to him, is the threats sometimes extended beyond mere reputational damage to life-threatening situations.

“Some of the enemies this job attracts will not hesitate to take a life should the opportunity present itself,” he warned, stressing that both he and his operational officers live under constant threat.

“Thus, my security risk is ultra high, and I have to perpetually be on the lookout for attacks on my person.”

The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has been actively investigating high-profile cases, including an inquiry into four corruption investigations such as the National Cathedral project and Strategic Mobilization Limited (SML).