An All Progressives Congress (APC) Chieftain, Dr Garus Gololo, has threatened to drag Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, to court over alleged sale of state assets.
In a statement on Thursday in Abuja, Galolo warned that he’ll assemble a team of lawyers to sue the Governor if he does not reverse his actions.
Gololo identified the Odubo cattle range in Gamawa local government of Bauchi State as an asset that should be preserved for the future of the state.
The APC Chieftain was reacting to the recent move by the Bauchi State government to lease or sell off six viable properties in the state, saying for personal gains
According to the state government, six public properties have been listed for privitasation including the Bauchi Fertilizer Company, Bauchi Meat Factory, Galambi Cattle Ranch, Bauchi Furniture, Zaranda Hotel and Wikki Hotels and Tours.
Gololo’s position was corroborated by the state chairman of the APC, Babayo Misau, who called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to commence investigation into the sale.
Misau said despite the laudable contributions to the economy of the state, the state government was still planning to sell them.
He described the development as shady, questionable and clearly adverse to the collective interest and well-being of people of the state.
According to him, “Bauchi State derives no meaningful benefit in any of the following transactions which include the leasing of Zaranda hotels for 25 years at N1.2 billion, leasing Wikki Hotels for 25 years at N200 million and sale of Bauchi Meat Factory which is worth billions of naira at the cheap rate of N301 million
Others he said included disposing of Bauchi State Fertilizer and Blending Company at N400 million, sale of Gallambi Cattle Ranch at N150 million and Bauchi State Furniture Company also dashed out at a negligible amount that is far less than its current value.
“More worrisome is the fact that the N2.251 billion to be realised as proceeds of the transactions is too meagre, considering the multi-billion current financial value of the disposed industries.
He alleged that the purchasing companies: AY Shafa Ltd, New Frontier Ltd, H and Y Global Ventures and Butfield Ltd are directly or indirectly linked to Governor Bala Mohammed as business partners and close associates.