The Cross River State House of Assembly in a unanimous motion moved by Hon Kingsley Ntui, a member representing Etung State Constituency on Tuesday 19 March, 2024, called on the Cross River State Government to revoke the state’s Abuja Liaison Office, which was purportedly concession to a private individual.
The Assembly’s Minority Whip, Hon. Omang Omang, expressed on the floor of the Assembly his dismay at the extensive renovations being carried out without the State Government’s knowledge. He also pointed out that the Assembly has not yet received any documentation proving the Abuja Liaison Office’s concession through due process to a private person or group of people.
Omang citing Section 128 of the Nigerian Constitution which empowers the House of Assembly to carry out an investigation, demanded an inquiry into the purported sale of state-owned property and the subsequent prosecution of those involved to dissuade future attempts by others to unlawfully privatize government assets.
Hon Neji Abang, the member representing Ikom 1 constituency, Hon Okon Owuna, a member representing Akamkpa II, Hon Ovat Agbor, a member representing Obubra I, and other members of the Assembly called for the immediate suspension of the ongoing renovations on the building and its recovery to the Cross River State Government. In addition, they demanded that the Assembly call on all parties engaged in the concession to provide a thorough explanation of the procedures followed before the properties were granted to private individuals.
The Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly Rt Hon. Elvert Ayambem reaffirmed that the Assembly members’ call for the property’s return in Abuja was a priority for the people of Cross River State and was not motivated by vendetta or witch-hunting anyone. He maintained that Governor Otu-led administration is the people’s first administration and the House will do its best to support the actualization.
