Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has called back Certificate of Occupancies, C of Os, in which about 25 plots of land were issued by his predecessor, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, purportedly to his relatives and cronies towards the end of his administration.
Though the state government is yet to issue an official statement on the revoked allocations, sources said the decision was taken without any malicious intent, since the plots of land in question were hurriedly allotted without following due process at the twilight of Fashola’s administration.
The source said: “Aside the fact that the lands were allocated hurriedly, the land was hitherto earmarked for a government project before former Governor Fashola erroneously allocated it to people. “I believe the former governor was not properly advised by his aides and the retired permanent secretary at the time he issued the C of Os.”
Investigations showed that the plots of land located at Lekki Phase One had initially been given to the State’s Water Corporation by the then military administration of Brigadier Mohammed Buba Marwa in 1998, while the certificate of occupancy was signed by former Governor Bola Tinubu in 2006.
The land had, however, been lying fallow since then. Most of the plots given out by Fashola were allegedly given to the former governor’s relatives, aides and associates. It was gathered that the knowledge of the anomalies came to the notice of the governor when the State Water Corporation wrote him, complaining the land belonged to the corporation and that the original certificate of ownership was still valid as it was not voided by Fashola before reallocating it.
Special Adviser to the Fashola on Media and Strategy, Mr. Hakeem Bello could not be reached for comment as at the time of filing this report.
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Posted: at 25-08-2015 06:17 PM (9 years ago) | Addicted Hero