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Nairaland Forum / Nairaland / General / Politics / Alamieyeseigha’s N2.8b Hotel Rots Away In Abuja (650 Views)
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Alamieyeseigha’s N2.8b Hotel Rots Away In Abuja by shaddoww: 9:19am On Sep 05, 2016 |
Almost seven years after the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) handed
over the N2.8billion Chelsea Hotel to the
government of Bayelsa State, the hitherto
money-spinning edifice is rotting away in
Abuja.
The hotel was seized from the state’s first
civilian governor, the late Diepreye
Alamieyeseigha.
A Federal High Court, Lagos in 2007 ordered
the forfeiture of the hotel by Alamieyeseigha
after the ex-governor was sentenced for
corruption.
Besides the hotel, the EFCC sold other
Alamieyeseigha assets in Nigeria and realised
N3, 128, 230, 294.83billion; $441,000; E7, 000
and £2,000.
The money was remitted to the Central Bank
of Nigeria (CBN), in accordance with the law,
for onward delivery to the state government
as ordered by the court.
Former EFCC Chairman Mrs. Farida Waziri on
September 7, 2009 handed over the hotel to
ex-Governor Timipreye Sylva in Abuja. The
thinking was that it would be a source of
revenue for the state.
Seven years after the asset was returned to
the state government, the hotel has become a
haven for miscreants, men of the underworld,
rodents and reptiles.
Shady activities are being perpetrated at the
abandoned hotel, which poses danger to some
shopping malls and banks in the Central
Business District of Abuja.
Some of the miscreants have stripped the
hotel of vital materials, which has no security.
An EFCC source, who spoke in confidence,
said: “As at the time we handed over the
hotel, in 2009, the asset was worth
N2.8billion. We returned the hotel to Bayelsa
State with another asset at No. 2 Marscibit
Street, Off Aminu Kano Crescent Wuse II
Abuja which was valued at N210million.
“We took a step further by instructing Diya
Fatimilehin and Co., former managers of the
hotel to provide the state with detailed
inventory of assets of the hotel.”
“It is unfortunate that nothing has been done
in the last seven years. The land where the
hotel is sited attracts either up to N800million
to N1billion in Abuja. Yet the asset is allowed
to lie fallow
“To the source, the fate of the once throwing
hotel is a typical case of how the anti-graft
war is being “frustrated and rendered
meaningless”
“A former Chairman of EFCC, Mr. Nuhu Ribadu
worked day and night to bring Alamieyeseigha
to justice but the efforts have come to
naught,” he said.
Asked if the EFCC can query the state
government on why the hotel has been
abandoned, the source said: “Well, there is
not much we can do because we have done
our best.
“The state’s funds were looted and used to
buy the hotel; we traced the loot and
recovered the assets. It is left to the state to
live up to its pledge to make judicious use of
the asset or sell it.
“We have been expecting a status report from
Bayelsa State on how it has spent the
recovered funds and the utilisation of the
returned assets.”
Upon the receipt of the hotel in 2009, Sylva
said: “The Bayelsa State Government will not
be able to manage the assets by itself. The
fund that the state government will receive
will also go to building what is called the
Transparency Plaza, in the middle of the
Yenagoa Central Business District, so that this
plaza will be a monument that will be a
constant reminder of today.
”As soon as the fund is accessed, we will like
to ask you to come to Bayelsa State to lay
the foundation of this plaza.
“We will welcome your close monitoring of the
expenditure of this fund, after all without the
instrumentality of EFCC, we would not have
accessed this fund, so it is only good that you
know exactly what we are doing. We are
running an open government; our budget is on
the website, anybody can access it. We are
fully committed to transparency and to partner
fully with EFCC.”
As at press time, rodents, reptiles, rodents,
miscreants, drug addicts have taken over the
hotel.
It was gathered that many posh cars and
Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) massed up in
darkness at the hotel at night for what a
source described as “nocturnal deals”.
A concerned bank executive said: “The
activities of some miscreants at the old hotel
premises constitute security threats to
commercial entities in CBD, including choice
malls and banks nearby.
“Security agencies and the police should have
more than a passing interest in some
activities at the old hotel.” thenationonlineng.net |
Re: Alamieyeseigha’s N2.8b Hotel Rots Away In Abuja by Nobody: 9:41am On Sep 05, 2016 |
Nigeria politicians don't have the fear of God in them.. They loot in billions, flex in millions and f...k in thousand. |
Re: Alamieyeseigha’s N2.8b Hotel Rots Away In Abuja by Nobody: 9:47am On Sep 05, 2016 |
they can use it as a governmrnt office or auction it.Nigeria and waste |
Re: Alamieyeseigha’s N2.8b Hotel Rots Away In Abuja by batstan(m): 9:56am On Sep 05, 2016 |
Dead brain leaders in government. Bayelsa state cannot maintain and run a small business hotel like Chelsea hotel? Then what can they manage? Then how do they intend to generate IR? Oh, I forgot, the government at the centre provides all. SMH. |
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