Nasarawa Assembly Probes Al-Makura Administration Over Sales Of Government Properties

• The Nasarawa State House of Assembly formed a nine-man committee to investigate the alleged sales of government properties in Lagos and other states
• The Speaker urged the committee to thoroughly investigate these alleged property sales and invited relevant officials for clarification

The Nasarawa State House of Assembly has formed a nine-man ad hoc committee to investigate alleged sales of government properties in Lagos and other states by Umaru Tanko Al-Makura‘s administration.

Mr. Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi, the Speaker of the House, announced the investigation after Mr. Mohammed Adamu Omadefu, the Majority Leader of the House, raised the issue during House proceedings in Lafia, the state capital, on Tuesday.

The Speaker urged the committee to travel to Lagos as soon as possible to begin its investigation into the alleged sale of the Nasarawa State Liaison Office in the southwestern state.

He urged the committee to thoroughly investigate the alleged sales of government properties by the previous administration.

He said;

What we saw in the media yesterday (Monday) that security men sent indigenes of the state staying in our Lagos Liason office out of the structure was unfortunate.

We feel bad and disappointed about that. The protest has given a bad image to our state and the government of Nasarawa State.

But we did not know whether the properties were sold or not and whether the proceeds were used for development or not. And who is/are the beneficiary/beneficiaries of the sale of the properties?

He urged the committee to do the right thing in the development interest.

“All those involved must be invited for clarification such as the office of the SSG , Accountant General and Board of Internal Revenue Service,” he said.

According to him, the committee will broaden its investigation to include the status of government properties throughout the country and individuals.

Mr. Larry Ven Bawa was appointed chairman of the committee by the Speaker.

“Other members are, Mr. Iliya Luka Zhekaba, the Minority Leader, Mr. Musa Ibrahim, Mr. Mohammed Omadefu, Mr. Suleiman Azara, Mr. Danladi Jatau, Mr. Saidu Gude, Mr. Mohammed Isimbabi, Mr. Mohammed Oyanki and Mr Ibrahim Musa, the Deputy Clerk is the Secretary of the committee,” he stated.

The Speaker urged the committee to conduct its investigation impartially.

Mr. Musa Abubakar, Mr. Danladi Jatau, Mr. Solomon Akwashiki, Mr. Mohammed Oyanki, and Mr. Larry Ven Bawa all supported the committee’s formation to investigate alleged government property sales in Lagos and other states.

They stated that the people of the state needed to know how much the proceeds of the property sales were and what they were used for.

Earlier, Mr. Mohammed Adamu Omadefu, the Majority Leader of the House, raised the issue, saying that the protest in Lagos by state indigenes had tarnished the state’s image.

He asked the House to form an ad hoc committee to look into the alleged sale of government properties in Lagos and other states.

According to reports, the Nasarawa State House of Assembly approved the then-Governor, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura’s request to sell the state’s properties in Lagos, Jos, and Kaduna due to their dilapidated conditions in September 2017.