Illegal Demolition: Rights Group calls for Akwa Ibom Works Commissioner’s resignation
…Gives Akwa Ibom Works Commissioner 14 ultimatum for resignation
A human rights group, Justice for the Masses Advocates (JMA) has called for the resignation of the Commissioner for Works and Fire Service, Prof. Eno Ibanga, following reports of alleged unwarranted demolition of properties owned by individuals without paying due compensation.
The group in statement jointly signed by its Chairman, Dr. Uduoyi Uno, and Secretary, Mark Asuquo, alongside other members, said the Commissioner has so far exhibited flagrant abuse of power which has become inimical to the people of the state.
Their statement reads in part: “We have received with displeasure, reports and verifiable evidence of several cases of flagrant abuse of power by the Commissioner for Works and Fire Service, Prof. Eno Ibanga. Having painstakingly perused the backlog of information and evidences at our disposal, we hereby condemn his attitude and call on him to reach out to property owners whom he has offended by bizarrely destroying their cherished assets. His attitude has become inimical to the people of the state. Subjecting the people of the state to untold hardship at a time when the economy is ailing, smacks of power-drunkenness and greed.”
The statement continued: “We demand that proper valuation of properties hitherto demolished and the ones currently earmarked for demolition should be done. Properties owners who are owed must to be paid to the last kobo.”
The group enjoined “Governor Udom Emmanuel and the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly to curb the excesses of the Commissioner, to avert more problems.”
If there is failure on the part of the Commissioner and the Akwa Ibom State Government to abide by the conditions spelt out within 14 days, the group vowed to drag Prof. Ibanga to court on behalf of owners of the demolished properties.
Meanwhile, this reporter reported recently that the Commissioner is under fire for demolishing Kijobee Nigeria Limited in Nsit Atai Local Government Area.
The case is in court, as its owner, Apostle Joseph Peter Eyoh, went to court to seek redress over his demolished property.
The filling station was demolished by a team led by the Commissioner.
The fence, office equipment, diesel generating set, three pumps, three underground tanks and other items were destroyed.
His Statement of Claim gave a breakdown of the damages: “Value of Building, N50m; Value of 3 Pumps, N6,000,000 at N2,000,000 each; 3 Underground Tanks, N30m; Perkins Diesel Generator, N10m; Office equipment, N850,000; Fence, N5m; 2 Million Naira monthly from September 2019 until judgment is delivered for loss of earnings; N16,830,000cost of 99,000 litres of petrol lost in 3 underground tanks at #170 per litres, N10 million as Cost of Action.”
He revealed that he duly obtained Rights of Occupancy on the said plot of life.
