By Dennis Agbo

ENUGU—A former Managing Director of Nigeria Coal Corporation, NCC, Sir Evarist Ibe, has dragged four agencies of the Federal Government and their consultant, C.A Chizea & Co, to the National Industrial Court, Enugu Division, for government’s inability to include him in the privatization of the property of the NCC.

Ibe, who was managing director of NCC between 2012 and 2015 was allocated No. 7, Colliery Avenue, GRA Enugu, as his official residence.

At the commencement of the privatization of the properties of the NCC, he applied to be conceded his official residence like most staff that previously had not partook in any other privatization of Federal Government property.

Ibe said he is, however, shocked that whereas his colleagues have concluded their processes, the Bureau for Public Enterprises, BPE, through its consultant, C.A Chizea, is yet to act on his application since 2012 till date.

He said attempts he made to be informed of the true situation regarding his intention to buy No. 7 Colliery Avenue, GRA Enugu, where he still resides, were met with silence from both the BPE and Chizea & Co.

The retired staff, therefore, went to court asking that he is entitled to right of first refusal as part of his fringe benefits to bid for the property before it can be offered to the public.

He is seeking for court’s declaration that any offer made to any third party or non sitting tenant employee, contrary to the approved guidelines for sale of federal government properties, is illegal and ineffectual.

Ibe is also asking the court to compel the BPE to issue him offer letter to enable him exercise his right of first refusal to purchase his tenanted apartment; and an order of perpetual injunction restraining the agencies of the federal government from offering the property for sale to the public without exhausting right of first refusal.

Respondents to the suit No NICN/EN/03/2017 include the Director General of BPE, the Principal Partner C.A Chiezea & Co, the Minister for Mines and Steel Development, the Nigeria Coal Corporation and the Attorney General of the Federation.

The earlier date of Monday March 20, fixed for the hearing could not hold because of Judges’ conference taking place in Abuja.