…reclaims N100m Yaman Park, others

By Peter Duru, Makurdi

The Benue state government, through the Benue Investment and Property Company Limited (BIPC), has commenced the recovery of state-owned lands allegedly acquired fraudulently by individuals and corporate bodies across the state.

Among the properties already reclaimed is the popular Yaman Park, a 7,000-square-metre facility located at Wurukum, Makurdi, valued at about N100 million.

The park, according to authorities, had become notorious as a hotspot for criminal activities. Also recovered were two properties located along Tse-Ayu on George Akume Way, Makurdi.

Speaking with journalists on Wednesday, the Group Managing Director of BIPC, Dr. Raymond Asemakaha, who led the operation warned that the company would take decisive action against anyone found to be in unlawful possession of government assets or failing to utilize them optimally.

“We are going to clamp down hard on individuals and organizations holding government assets that are not performing. These are public assets meant to create jobs and generate revenue for the people of Benue State,” Asemakaha said.

He explained that BIPC derived its authority from Edict 10 of 1995, which mandates the company to manage all government properties and investments for optimal returns.

Commenting on one of the reclaimed properties along George Akume Way, Asemakaha disclosed that the land, measuring one hectare (10,000 square metres), was purchased on November 2, 2016, adding that a forensic review carried out upon his assumption of office revealed serious irregularities in the transaction.

“We discovered that BIPC made a proxy investment which yielded no return. During our investigation, we traced the funds used for the purchase to a closed account that had to be reopened. The money was eventually traced to this land, and we have now recovered it,” he stated.

He further revealed that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had been brought into the matter, noting that there were attempts by some individuals to dispose of the property before the recovery.

“EFCC is already on the case to foreclose the transaction. We had to move in quickly because they were trying to sell the land,” he said.

Asemakaha also disclosed that another plaza along the same axis was purchased on October 20, 2016, alleging that some financial institutions colluded in the questionable transactions.

Issuing a stern warning to prospective buyers, the BIPC GMD cautioned that any attempt to purchase the reclaimed properties would be at the buyer’s risk.

“Anyone intending to buy these lands does so at his or her own peril. The properties belong to the Benue State Government, BIPC, and the people of Benue. We have valid title documents, including Certificate of Occupancy,” he stressed.

He noted that several other government lands currently under lease would also be reviewed, particularly those acquired by former public officials through “systematic manipulation” without the capacity to develop them.

“If you are holding government assets and they are not performing, we will take them back. You cannot hold our assets in pretence and go home to sleep while the state suffers,” Asemakaha warned.

Describing the ongoing exercise as only the beginning, he said more recoveries were underway. “This is just the tip of the iceberg. There are many more government assets we are going to recover in the overriding interest of the Benue people,” he declared.

While acknowledging the likelihood of legal challenges, the BIPC GMD urged members of the legal profession to place the interest of the state above personal gain. “We may face litigation, but I appeal to lawyers to put the overriding interest of Benue state above self-interest,” he said.