The Nasarawa State House of Assembly has constituted a nine-man ad hoc committee to investigate the alleged sales of government properties in Lagos and other states by the former administration of Tanko Al-Makura.

Ibrahim Abdullahi, the house speaker, announced the resolution after Mohammed Omadefu, the majority leader of the house, brought the issue under the Matter of Public Interest during the plenary in Lafia on Tuesday.

The speaker urged the committee to immediately proceed to Lagos to begin its investigation into the alleged sales of the Nasarawa State Liaison Office in Lagos State.

He urged the committee to thoroughly investigate the alleged sales of government properties by the immediate past administration.

“Yes, this house under my watch has passed a resolution directing the former government to sell the state properties in Lagos and other states for infrastructure development as requested by the past governor.

“With what we have seen in the media yesterday, the fact that the security men have sent indigenes of the state staying in our Lagos liaison office out of the structure was unfortunate.

“We feel bad and disappointed about that. The protest has given a bad image to our state and the government of Nasarawa State,” he said.

According to him, they needed to find out whether the properties were sold and whether the proceeds were used for development.

He added, “Because, after the approval by the house in 2017, we never heard anything about it again, not to mention making any appropriations for it.

“And who are the beneficiaries of the sales of the properties?”

The speaker urged the committee to ensure that the right things are done in the state’s interest, noting that Nasarawa SSG, accountant-general and board of internal revenue should be invited for clarification.

The speaker named Larry Bawa, the chief whip of the house, the committee’s chairman.

“Other members are Hon. Iliya Zhekaba, the Minority Leader; Hon. Musa Ibrahim; Hon. Mohammed Omadefu; Hon. Suleiman Azara; Hon. Danladi Jatau; Hon. Saidu Gude; Hon. Mohammed Isimbabi; Hon. Mohammed Oyanki; and Ibrahim Musa, the Deputy Clerk, who is the Secretary of the committee,” he said.

Musa Abubakar, Danladi Jatau, Solomon Akwashiki, Mohammed Oyanki, and Mr Bawa all supported the need for the house to set up the committee to investigate the alleged sale of government properties in Lagos and other states.

In September 2017, the Nasarawa State House of Assembly approved the request of the ex-governor to sell the state’s properties in Lagos, Jos, and Kaduna due to their dilapidated status.

(NAN)