By Asuquo Cletus
The Cross River State House of Assembly has ordered the immediate revocation of all government properties and houses sold in Ogoja Local Government Area.
Mathew Okache, Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker of the House, disclosed this in a statement to Primetime on Tuesday.
He stated that the resolution followed deliberations during plenary on the report submitted by the House Committee on Lands and Housing regarding the controversial sale of nine government flats located near the General Hospital in Ogoja.
The affected properties include four blocks of two semi-detached 2-bedroom bungalows and a 3-bedroom apartment, all constructed in 1985 during the administration of Governor Clement Ebri to address the accommodation needs of civil and public servants.
The controversy was first brought to the Assembly’s attention on January 7, 2025, by Hon. Thomas Aruku, representing Ogoja State Constituency. He raised a matter of urgent public interest, alleging that officials from the Ministry of Lands in Calabar sold the properties without adhering to due process.
Presenting the findings of the investigation, Committee Chairman Martins Achadu revealed that the properties were sold for a total of ₦8 million. Notably, one 2-bedroom flat was reportedly allocated to a Mr. Joseph Item as a “commission” for the current occupant, Mr. Stephen Agian.
Achadu noted that the Ministry acted under a 2004 resolution passed during the tenure of former Governor Donald Duke, which permitted the sale of certain state-owned residential buildings deemed dilapidated. However, he clarified that the Ogoja housing units were not among the properties listed for sale under that directive.
The Committee further observed that no new approval or revalidation was issued by the current administration of Governor Bassey Edet Otu, thereby rendering the transaction illegal.
Lawmakers condemned the sale in strong terms, describing it as a blatant abuse of office and a breach of public trust. They expressed outrage over the uniform pricing of both 2-bedroom and 3-bedroom units and criticized the use of outdated property valuations. Many members labeled the transaction as fraudulent and intentionally deceptive.
The Assembly called for a thorough investigation and demanded appropriate sanctions against all individuals involved. Legislators insisted that the suspicious pricing and lack of executive approval pointed to a calculated attempt to exploit public resources.
Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem, in his closing remarks, denounced the illegal transaction and assured that the House would pursue the matter to its logical conclusion.
“The House of Assembly will not allow any public officer to trample on the law,” he said. “We must set an example and ensure that public assets are protected for the benefit of all Cross Riverians.”
The Assembly has also summoned all individuals linked to the illegal sale to appear before it at a public hearing.
