Re: 6 Sealed Properties by EFCC in Abia State: State Govt. threatens Legal Action..

                                                              

The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Abia State, Uche Ihediwa Esq. has  Tuesday given a seven days ultimatum to the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) from today to remove the offensive and provocative notices placed on the properties and to tender an apology to the Abia State Government within the same period.

The properties in question include; the Abia Mall, the Housing Estate at Adelabu Street, Umuahia, the former Township main market at Ogwumabiri, the Millennium Luxury Apartments, Umuahia, Abia Hotels, and Linto Estate, Old Timber Shed.

                           

                             

                             

Recall that EFCC traced some properties alleged to be acquired fraudulently by the former governor of the state, Senator Theodore Orji. Recall also that legal representative of Trademore Holding Nwoke John Kalu Esq. also issued a 48 hours ultimatum to EFCC last week to unseal the above properties that it belongs to the company.

The legal ownership of the 6 properties seems uncertain.

The Honourable Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Uche Ihediwa stated :

”It is pertinent to note that the properties listed above belong to the Abia State Government and are not under investigation by the EFCC.

                                     

                                    Uche Ihediwa, Comm. for Justice Abia State

”Abia State Government duly entered into arrangements with credible investors for the development of these properties under Public-Private Partnerships, which means that the reversionary interests in these properties still reside in the State Government.

”Sections 28 and 29 (a) of the law establishing the Commission, ie, the Economic and Financial Crimes (Establishment) Act, Cap E1, LFN 2004 make it clear that the Commission can only attach or seal the properties of persons arrested for an offense under the Act. 

”As noted earlier in this briefing, ownership of the properties by the Abia State Government is not subject to an EFCC investigation.

”With particular reference to the Housing Estate at Adelabu Street, the estate was initially to be developed by investors under Public Private Partnership arrangements but later terminated for nonperformance by the developers/investors.

”The Adelabu estate under my watch as Commissioner for Housing was later built with direct labor by the Housing Ministry with the approval of the State Government.

”The houses in the estate, on completion, were allocated to individuals who paid for the allocations and continue to pay ground rents to the State Government.

”Also, the Abia Mall is in receivership as a result of the failure of the investor to pay back bank facilities. Had the Commission done a due diligence check, it would have unearthed this fact without shooting itself on the foot.

The unwarranted and unlawful actions of the EFCC has fine incalculable harm to the economy of the State by scaring away high profile investors from the State.

”This also sends a negative signal to investors planning to invest in Nigeria.

”In the light of the foregoing, the EFCC is hereby given Seven (7) days from today to remove the offensive and provocative notices placed on the above-listed properties or estates.

”The EFCC must tender an apology to the Abia State Government within the same period.

”Failure to comply with these demands will leave the State Government with no option but to seek appropriate redress in a court of law,” Ihediwa said.

                                 

                                  Theodore Orji, former Governor of Abia State