Abia govt seals properties allegedly transferred to individuals
The Abia State government has taken action by sealing two properties allegedly transferred to former government officials. One property, formerly known as No.40 Ekenna Street, GRA, Aba, now named 'Corpus Lodge', was reportedly transferred to a former Commissioner for Transport, Chief Godswill Nwonoruo. The other property, located at No.1 Alex Onyeado Close, Aba, previously served as a state veterinary office and was allegedly transferred to a former deputy governor.
According to Mr. Uche Ukeje, General Manager of the Greater Aba Development Authority (GADA), the property on Ekenna Street was transferred to the former Commissioner on April 29, 2023, via a certificate of occupancy (C of O), after the conclusion of the 2023 general election. This property was initially recovered from Church Gate Holdings, a partner of Abia State in Aba Textile Mills, by the previous administration and later handed over to the Abia State Advertisement and Signage Agency (ABSAA). However, it was then transferred to the ex-Transport Commissioner, who had previously served as a consultant to the agency.
Regarding the property on Alex Onyeado Close, Ukeje mentioned that it was formerly the headquarters of the veterinary office in Aba before being transferred to private ownership. The government intends to repurpose this site for an industrial court instead of allowing it to remain under private ownership.
Ukeje emphasized the government's commitment to protecting state assets and ensuring transparency in asset management, stating that the review process aims to recover public assets that have been unlawfully transferred to private individuals.
Upon being contacted at the sealed property, Chief Godswill Nwonoruo, the former Commissioner for Transport, declined to comment, with some of his associates advising against speaking to journalists.
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