Abak Local Government Council says there is no going back in its determination to recover council assets sold out to individuals, corporate bodies and organisations with no adherence to due process.
The Chairman of the Local Government Council, Rt. Hon. (Pst.) Ekerette Inyang, stated this on Thursday 22nd April , 2021, shortly after his presentation of 2021 Budget in a joint plenary session held at the Council Secretariat.
Pastor Inyang noted that the era when government assets were sold with impunity is over, adding that as a step towards actualising the position of the council, an Asset Recovery Committee headed by Hon. Jude Edem had been set up and mandated to ensure that council assets criminally disposed are fully recovered.
Fielding questions from Newsmen, Pastor Inyang warned against blind purchase of the council assets and advised beneficiaries of such largesse to desist from the illegal acquisitions, warning that such purchases have grief legal implications.
Pastor Inyang who frowned at the action of one Mr. Unwana Ibokette who is alleged to have evacuated a Caveat Notice on one of the council’s landed assets located at Waterside, and taking full possession of the property, described such action as a clear obliteration of the rule of law, emphasising that the council will bring the full weight of the law against transgressors.
The council boss said: “…like the case involving one Mr. Unwana Ibokette, I want to state here that it is really preposterous to nonchalantly put away a government caveat placed on a recognized government land; a complete annihilation of the rule of law.”
“What was expected of him in this case was to appear before the panel after being served notice on two occasions to ascertain if actually he was the bonafide owner of the confiscated property.” He noted.
The Council boss explained that setting up of the Asset Recovery Committe is not to witch hunt any individual or organisations as erroneously speculated, stressing that those who acquired the Council assets should appear before the Committee with evidence of such acquisitions .
He warned that persons or organisations with no legitimate documents for the purchase would have such assets confiscated by the council after 21 days of notice as stipulated by law.
The Council helmsman used the occasion to acknowledged the state government support in the assets recovery drive, saying that such backing has emboldened the council to be forward looking in the task of the assests recovery.
It would be recalled that the Deputy Governor, His Excellency, Mr. Moses Ekpo, while commissioning projects executed by the Ekerette Inyang led-administration, stated that Abak Local Government Council has the support of the state government to demolish illegal structures erected in unapproved locations.
