The Association of Ebonyi Unsigned in Diaspora (AESID) has faulted an alleged plot to sell a landed property belonging to the state government in Lagos “in breach of laid down rules and regulations.”
AESID’s President-General, Worldwide, Ambassador Paschal Oluchukwu, who said the land is located in Maryland, claimed that the proposed buyer was well-connected.
The group, in a statement in Abuja, called on security agencies to probe the matter.
It noted: “To this end, we have been fully informed about the serving of notices to various occupants of the said property for its alleged eventual take-over by the said buyer whose identities, terms of agreements and rate of purchase have remained a top-secret.
“We gathered, therefore, that some of the traders around the area have already complied with the notices, by vacating the said premises.”
AESID queried: “First, is the state government aware that Ebonyi indigenes living in and others doing businesses within the said premises have been served notices to quit the said apartments? If indeed, it is to its knowledge, who is behind such notices?
“Second, did the current administration at any point raise the issue of selling, leasing, or even quitting the tenants of the said massive land before an executive committee (exco) (meeting) either for deliberation or consideration?
“Third, was the said property ever advertised either in the print, electronic, or even the social media as being on sale for interested members of the public to perhaps, competitively bid and lobby for it as stipulated in our laws?
“Who exactly is behind this alleged plot to sell off what belongs to all Ebonyians without recourse to due process?”
Urging the government to declare the status of the property within 24 hours, Oluchukwu stated: “We, therefore, call on security and law enforcement agencies to immediately probe this allegation.”
The association also sought “compensation for those affected by the airport project at Okarue and Umuoghara communities in Ezza North council area of the state.”