By Anya C. Anya

The Abia State Government led by Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu has given the officials of the Economic and Financial Crime(EFCC) Commission 7 days to remove the offensive and provocative notices the agency placed on some properties in the state.

In a press release made available to AFNEWS dated 29th June 2020 , the Honorable Attorney General of the state and Commissioner for Justice Bar. Uche Ihediwa, Esq while speaking on behalf of the state government said the State Government is expecting EFCC to as a matter of urgency tender an apology to the state government within the 7 days period or be ready to meet the state government in court because the Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu led administration will do everything possible to seek redress in court.

The good people of Abia state wake up few days ago to discover that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission while carrying out their enforcement and investigative duty as provided by the law establishing the Commission has marked  properties of the Abia State in various locations in the State Capital, Umuahia to enable the anti corruption agency to carry out an investigation into the ownership of these properties

The affected properties are –

1. The Abia Mall
2. The Housing Estate at Adelabu Street, Umuahia
3. The former Township main market at Ogwumabiri
4. The Millennium Luxury Apartments, Umuahia
5. Abia Hotels
6. Linto Estate, Old Timber Shed

But the Abia state government in her reaction said In 2016,” the same Commission, EFCC, investigated the ownership of most of these properties. The Certificates of Occupancy and Public Private Partnership Agreements between the State Government and Investors in respect of the properties were duly submitted or tendered before the Commission at the time, which documents the Commission found satisfactory.”

The Honourable Commissioner for Justice hinted that the 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 makes it clear that the Commission can only attach or seal the properties of persons arrested for an offence under the Act. As noted earlier in this briefing, ownership of the propertied by the Abia State Government is not subject of any EFCC investigation.”

Bar. Uche Ihediwa Esq. Made particular reference to the Housing Estate at Adelabu Street, according to him ” the estate was initially to be developed by investors under Public Private Partnership arrangements but later terminated for non performance 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 Abia State government therefore explained as unwarranted and unlawful the actions of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission in sealing the affected places since it has brought incalculable harm to the economy of the State by scaring away high profile investors from the State.also it has 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.”

Whether or not the Economic and Financial Crime Commission will obey the Abia State government in removing the notices placed around the state capital or will EFCC defy the state government and meet them in court is a subject of discussion later