EFCC begins investigation of illegally sold public property in Enugu

• Seals off multi-million naira shopping centre commission
Indications have emerged that the anti-graft agency, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), may have begun investigations into some public landed property illegally sold under the immediate past administration of Sullivan Chime in Enugu state.

This is as the commission yesterday sealed off the multi-million naira shopping complex sharing a fence with the Enugu State House of Assembly on Independence layout

The yet to be completed complex with a capacity to employ at least 300 workers when operational was boldly marked “keep off, under EFCC investigation” round the perimeter walls and entrances yesterday. All the entrances were under lock and key when The Guardian visited the place at noon. It has raised a lot of dust since commencement of work there over its location in the three arms zone of the state.

The complex, which is linked to two former public officers in the state, was one of the facilities allegedly shown to operatives of the commission recently by a petitioner, Mr Ray Nnaji.

It could be recalled that part of the crisis that arose at the twilight of the immediate past administration was the sale of the landed property for shopping malls after it was carved out from the premises of the State House of Assembly.

The lawmakers had seriously opposed the move on the ground that they were not consulted adding that the location wrong as it was not part of the original plan of the area. They had moved the resolution asking the private developers to stop further construction and urged the state government to relocate the site of the project.

The stand of the lawmakers did not go down well with the state government thus leading to a crisis that factionalized the Assembly and inability of the members to converge till the end of the administration. While the crisis however unsettled the House of Assembly, work continued in the premises.

Sources told The Guardian that the shopping complex is among several other landed property listed in some of the petitions certain persons authored against the immediate past administration.