Allegations of public properties conversion to private ownership in Lagos
There have been series of complaints about how some particular persons have converted public properties meant for the use of the people of Lagos into private use. These allegations did not start today. They started even right from yesterday particularly during the administration of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
But hardly would anybody pay attention because, those damaging allegations coming from party then in control of Federal Government (PDP) were viewed by pessimists as mere trick to use Federal Might to gag the alleged individuals in order to take over Lagos and install the government formed by their own party in the nation’s economic nerve centre.
But in truth, questions asked at appropriate times have helped unravel some of these issues as the allegations continue to fly unabated. People are asking why the anti-corruption agencies particularly the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have failed to look into allegations as huge as these. When asked, sources in the one of the agencies say action will be taken when the complainers lodge their complaints appropriately.
Although none of the complainers, as far as our investigations are concerned, has made formal complaint over the scam that has not been talked about in Lagos, The DEFENDER however has list of some questions by sources who strictly demanded for anonymity.
The questions include: “2. To start with, Number 4, Oyikan Abayomi (formerly Queens) Drive, Ikoyi, A 5-bedroom detached house on one acre of land which was originally the Lagos State Governor’s Guest House since 1973, now belongs to a former Governor of the State (names withheld).
“3. The certificate of occupancy of the property, valued at N450 million, was signed and released to him by his successor (names withheld), in 2007 shortly after he assumed office.
“4. It might be difficult to come to terms with the fact that whenever someone in Lagos begins to wonder where their 4th mainland bridge went or what was the fate of the pipe-borne water project or even where the schools and hospitals had vanished to, there is a silence.
“5. The largest landlord in Lagos has done as he has pleased and the rest of the state just has to deal with it.
“6. (Names withheld)’s residence at ….. Ikoyi was initially falsely PRESENTED as Oando Plc Guest House. Later, he purportedly bought it from Oando and used public funds to rebuild and renovate it.
“7. The Lagos State Government bought the property and paid an undisclosed sm to him and thereafter gave the property back to him under the bogus pension bill he signed into law shortly before he left office in …. The property is worth over N600 million.
“8. The annex of the Lagos State Guest House in Asokoro, Abuja was bought by the State Government in 2006 for N450 million, purportedly to protect the main house from security breach.
“9. Shortly after ….left office, the property was transferred to him under the pension plan he signed into law before leaving office.
“10. The 250-hectres of land valued at about N35 billion and strategically located at the Ajah junction on Lekki Road was initially meant for a General Hospital for the people of Eti-Osa Local Government.
“11. But was acquired by …and handed over to Trojan Estate Limited – a company owned by … and …. – to develop as Royal Garden Housing Estate at the expense of the taxpayers of Lagos.
“13. The prime land of 157 hectares with 2.5km of Atlantic beachfront, valued at about N10 billion was taken by (names withheld) from the communities of Siriwon, Igbekodo, Apakin, etc an Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area.
“14. and given to one (names withheld), his crony to build a golf course and luxury villa with little or no compensation to villagers. In addition, (withheld) paid $20 MILLION (N3 billion) out of public treasury to (names withheld) to commence the project in late 2006.”
This report has only taken from among the 26 issues raised in the complaints against certain individuals in the said Lagos scam that is not talked of. In putting those questions together, challenge has been posed to the Lagos State Lands Bureau.
“If the Lagos State Lands Bureau could publish the names and identities of beneficiaries of land allotees from 2000 to date, the scandal that will result is better imagined,” they concluded with an addition of how a current Senator at the 8th Senate and another woman (names withheld) “were the conduits through which these acts were being perpetrated.”
From our observation, the only medium that has published these issues raised is an Nairaland.com which makes it unacceptable to The DEFENDER a more serious media organisation to pay serious attention until eminent people of the Centre of Excellence began to speak out to the extent of accusing journalists of conspiracy in the matter covering the alleged.
The issues raised in the listed complaints are a crisis lying in waiting and we at our own level, as a young but fast growing online media outfit cut out to be the best in Nigeria if not in Africa, believe that we have a responsibility to prove to the majority of the people that we are not part of any conspiracy to cover up for anybody as laid against journalists. We have therefore brought these issues to the attention of the EFCC through this report for the needful to be done:
1.Is it through that the house that supposed to be Lagos State Guest House in Abuja now belongs to a private owner? How. Question should be asked by the EFCC.
2.Is it true that properties belonging to Lagos State people under the management of the Government of the State are now cornered and owned by private individuals? EFCC should ask questions. This is one way we have taken to help our political, government and generality of leaders avert future personality crisis and it is hoped that “a stitch” will be done “in time to save nine” for them.
