Bode George, others named in 'fraudulent' sale of govt houses
From Azimazi Momoh Jimoh, Abuja
CONVICTED former Chairman of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Olabode George, is among some Nigerian leaders named by the Senate Committee on Housing and Urban Development as beneficiaries in the abuse of due process in the sale of Federal Government Houses in Lagos.
To enable the indicted persons present their position on the matter, the panel has asked them to appear before it on a date to be announced to explain how they acquired the houses.
At a public hearing convened by the Senator Ikechukwu Obiora-led committee yesterday in Abuja, some persons under the umbrella of "notable Nigerians" were allegedly given the opportunity to buy houses without being subjected to the bidding process.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, who admitted that there were indeed some "notable Nigerians" given such treatment, said there was nothing wrong in granting special recognition to them even in the sale of the houses.
The committee, which also threatened to arrest members of the management team of the Transnational Corporation (Transcorp) Plc for not honouring its invitation, said all the beneficiaries in the controversial deal would be invited to answer questions on their roles.
Others named in the scandal are former Minister of Works, Chief Adeseye Ogunlewe, immediate past Minister of Foreign Affairs, Joy Ugwu, erstwhile Chief of Army Staff, Owoye Azazi and former Chief of Defence Staff, Ibrahim Ogohi.
There are also former Vice Admiral, I.I. Ibrahim, Mr. B. Adeleke, Gbemisola Adebo and Olatonyin. O. Olakunrin.
Obiora said the committee discovered that "some persons have been given houses without bidding for them and we have decided to invite them to explain how they came about the houses."
The panel said Transcorp was invited to explain how it bought a particular house for N375 million even when the price put on it by the Presidential Implementation Committee on Sale of Federal Government Houses in Lagos was N377 million.
Ahmed had engaged the committee in a prolonged debate on the special treatment accorded the "notable Nigerians" in the sale of the houses.
Ahmed insisted that there was nothing wrong in the decision of the former President Olusegun Obasanjo to approve such special recognition, adding that all the actions taken by government in the sale of houses in Lagos were in full compliance with due process.
His words: "There are indeed notable Nigerians and there should be. This does not go contrary to anything that will guarantee equality. If there are no notable Nigerians, we are going against the division of labour created by the almighty Allah. Government operates within the context of the constitution, within the context of law, of regulations and within the context of guidelines. In this particular case, guidelines were approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on how to dispose of Federal Government houses in both Abuja and Lagos . These guidelines were publicised.
"If I were the chairman of the implementation committee and there is an Executive Council, additional guidelines to scrutinise some notable Nigerians, who expressed interest to buy the houses, I will definitely for example, if I come across say the distinguished Senator Joseph Wayas declaring interest, I will regard him as a notable Nigerian and I will recommend to the President based on the guidelines given to us for him to get the houses.
"Therefore, as far as PIC is concerned, it has not operated outside the additional guidelines given to them by the executive. This is highlighted as the council's conclusion, which now is an addendum to what was advertised to give priority to sitting tenants. The ordinary meaning of notable is: significant, distinguished, it is something worth noting. And I think that in any human society, there are people who are notable. That does mean that we are not following the constitution," he said.
