The Committee on the Review of Sales of Kwara Government property from 1999 till date has declared that there is no proof of payment or right of occupancy on the expanse of land where the late Olusola Saraki built the old peoples’ home popularly called ‘Ile Arugbo’ in Ilorin.
Chairman of the committee, Makanjuola Ajadi, disclosed this in Ilorin while briefing newsmen on the controversy surrounding government’s reclamation of the property.
The building was demolished on January 2 and reclaimed by the state government which said a new secretariat would be constructed on the site.
“The attention of the Committee on the Review of Sales of Kwara State Government Properties from 1999 to Date has been drawn to the various publications on the decision of government in respect of the land earmarked for the construction of the State Secretariat (now commonly referred to as Ile Arugbo),” Mr Ajadi said.
“The issue of the land in question came under the terms of reference of the committee which considered several other properties of government and submitted its recommendations in July, 2019.
“As was the case with all the properties looked into by the committee, the committee’s recommendations are based strictly on available records.
“Based on the available records, the Committee did not see proof of any payment nor an approved Right of Occupancy.”
According to him, the committee discovered that foundation had been laid on the land with columns at varying areas of the larger segment of the land.
“The Committee also noted that the land in question was also a part of a larger parcel of land, part of which has been developed into a Civil Service Clinic and Secretariat complex now housing the State Ministry of Finance, among others,” he said.
“With emphasis, from all records available, there is no ‘Right of Occupancy’ or Certificate of Occupancy’ available to the private firm which the land was allocated in principle.
“There is also no application nor receipt of payments for the land. Where, therefore, is the right to a claim to this land?”
He added that based on existing convention, the land set aside by the government for specific public use should not be converted to private use.
The demolition has been contested by former Senate President Bukola Saraki, and the minister of state for transportation, Gbemisola Saraki, who are both children of the late Saraki.
