Abia State government has given the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) 7 days ultimatum to remove the notices placed on some of the assets and estates of the State government.
The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Uche Ihediwa , gave the ultimatum while briefing journalists on the recent development where the EFCC sealed off some properties allegedly belonging to a top politician in the State.
The properties sealed by the EFCC include; Adelabu Housing Estate, Abia Mall, Millennium Luxury Apartment, Abia Hotels, Linto Estate as well as the old Timber Market
Ihediwa mandated the EFCC to tender an unreserved apology to the State within the specified period or the State would seek redress in court.
He stated that the properties marked by the EFCC belong to the state government, as the government duly entered into partnership arrangements with credible investors for the development of the properties under public-private partnerships.
Emphasizing that the law establishing the EFCC made it clear that the Commission can only seal property of persons under investigation, the Attorney General noted that ownership of the property in question is not under investigation.
He noted that the EFCC had in 2016, investigated the ownership of most of the properties and the certificates of occupancy and public-private partnership agreements between the State government and investors of the various assets.
Also describing EFCC’s action as unwarranted, Ihediwa also faulted the Commission for failing to contact the state government to ascertain the ownership of the said properties whose title documents are domiciled in the State Ministry of Lands.
He stated that the EFCC’s action may scare investors from the State.
