An Abia State House of Assembly committee on public accounts, anti-corruption, and due process has launched an investigation into the alleged sale of 17 vehicles belonging to the state’s Secondary Education Management Board.
The vehicles were allegedly sold between ₦10,000 and ₦25,000 each amounting to ₦317,000. Also allegedly sold were student buses parked in the ministry of agriculture.
Jerry Uzosike, Chairman of the committee, read a petition in the house on Friday challenging the sale of the vehicles without due process of auctioning of government property.
The hearing by the committee, however, did not proceed due to the absence of the representatives of the ministry of transport.
The board is alleged to have auctioned the vehicles at ₦10,000 and ₦25,000 each, depending on the brand, even though none was declared ‘beyond economic recovery’.
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The petitioner alleged that more vehicles, a Peugeot 504 and 505, which were sent for repairs, with repair bills paid, were not returned and are said to be missing.
The house is questioning the pre-auction process and whether due approval was given. However, the house adjourned hearing on the matter to January 27 due to the absence of the representatives of the ministry of transport.
Ahead of the hearing, the house has mandated the board to produce documentary evidence that: the auction was approved by the state governor, evidence showing the vehicles were declared “beyond economic recovery” before the auction, a national daily containing advert for the auction, applications sent in by auctioneers, license and a valid certificate showing that the auctioneer is a member of the [Nigeria Association of Auctioneers], official sale and evaluation reports of the vehicles and a proper inventory of the cars as well as other documents empowering the alleged auction of the vehicles and evidence of payment into the account of the Board of Internal Revenue of the State.
