Cross River Assembly cancels Ogoja property sales, cites fraud, abuse of office, and illegal process.
Lawmakers vow sanctions, summon officials, and demand justice over undervalued government assets.
The Cross River State House of Assembly has ordered the immediate cancellation of all government property sales recently conducted in Ogoja Local Government Area.
This directive was issued following a plenary session on Tuesday in Calabar, based on the findings of a report submitted by the House Committee on Lands and Housing. The committee investigated the contentious sale of nine government-owned flats situated near the General Hospital in Ogoja.
According to a statement released by the Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker, Matthew Okache, the Assembly reached the resolution after deliberating on serious concerns surrounding the transactions.
The properties in question include four blocks of two semi-detached, 2-bedroom bungalows, and a 3-bedroom apartment. These buildings, constructed in 1985 during the administration of former Governor Clement Ebri, were originally intended to provide housing for civil and public servants in the area.
The issue was first brought to light on January 7, 2025, when Hon. Thomas Aruku, who represents the Ogoja State Constituency, raised it as a matter of urgent public concern. He alleged that the Ministry of Lands, based in Calabar, had sold the buildings without following proper procedures.
Presenting the findings of the probe, Committee Chairman Hon. Martins Achadu disclosed that the properties were collectively sold for ₦8 million. He further revealed that one of the 2-bedroom flats was irregularly allocated to a Mr. Joseph Item as a “commission” for the current occupant, Mr. Stephen Agian.
The ministry had cited a 2004 policy issued under former Governor Donald Duke, which permitted the sale of dilapidated government residences. However, Achadu clarified that the Ogoja properties were never included in that directive. He added that no approval or revalidation was granted by the present administration under Governor Bassey Edet Otu, making the sales illegal.
Lawmakers condemned the entire process, calling it a gross abuse of office and a betrayal of public trust. They criticized the sale for applying the same price to both 2-bedroom and 3-bedroom units, describing it as fraudulent and deliberately misleading.
The Assembly also highlighted the outdated valuation used in the transactions and called for a full-scale investigation. Members demanded appropriate sanctions against all parties involved and stressed that the suspicious pricing and lack of formal authorization pointed to a deliberate attempt to misappropriate state assets.
In his address, Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem, strongly denounced the unauthorized sales and pledged that the Assembly would not relent until justice is served.
“No public officer will be allowed to violate the law. We must lead by example and ensure that public property is safeguarded for the collective good of Cross Riverians,” he stated.
The House has also summoned all individuals involved in the transactions to appear at a scheduled public hearing for further inquiry.
