…ESPPC visits property as residents want estate returned to family
A mini estate with blocks of flats and boys’ quarters, tucked in a muddy area off Uwasota Road near Uwelu, Benin City, Edo State capital, has become a subject of disputed ownership, as no documents exist to back the property.
Insinuations suggest the property belonged to the late first civilian governor of the old Bendel State (now Edo and Delta Sates), Professor Ambrose Alli, and is believed to be a gift from a contractor.
Alli lost his re-election bid in 1983, and by December of the same year, the Second Republic was aborted by a military coup. He was arrested on alleged corruption charges, released years later after a fine was paid, and died shortly afterwards.
The said benefactor, who was also arrested at that time and later died, never formally handed over the documents and the buildings to Alli, who never took possession of the properties before his death.
Chief Rose Alli, daughter of the late Alli, acknowledged the existence of the properties early this year in an interview where she said a commissioner in Alli’s cabinet confirmed the existence of the bungalows. However, because they abandoned them, many people were now laying claim to the buildings.
But for the past week, the controversial buildings have been in the news as the Edo State Public Property Protection Committee (ESPPPC), headed by Eugene Okoloise, visited the area on a fact-finding mission.
He said those laying claim to the buildings have refused to come up with any document to prove their claims.
NDV visits the Estate
When the NDV visited the estate at the weekend, it was discovered that part of the building was occupied by a school. A staff member who refused to identify herself said the school usually pays its rent to a lawyer but added that the proprietor was indisposed and unavailable, so not much information could be obtained. Another bungalow in the estate was occupied by a Pentecostal church, but nobody was around to respond to enquiries.
The eldest man (Odionwere) in the area, Pa Vincent Aduware, said to the best of his knowledge, the buildings belonged to late Ambrose Alli, but he knows several people have been occupying the place.
He said the house was built before he became the Odionwere but was later abandoned and became a hideout for criminals, which was why the community allowed someone to use it as a school.
He said some people had earlier come claiming to be Alli’s family members, but they turned out to be fake.
I worked there when it was being built —Edwin
A youth leader in the area who gave his name as Comrade Edwin said the houses belonged to Alli, as he was around when they were built.
“I am part and parcel of how this house was built; I know the person that came to build it. Late Ojo was the Odionwere then. This place was built in 1981, and as a young man then, I worked as a labourer, filling the land here, and my landlord was one of the persons that built it. Alli never brought his family to this place, but whenever he came here, he would stay by the Odionwere’s house.
“This has been here, but to my greatest surprise, about five or six years ago, a man from Delta State named Edafe came and said it was his father’s house and wanted to sell it for N60 million. I stopped them, and they arrested me and one other person and took us to the SCID. I was interviewed by the Deputy Commissioner of Police on the matter, and I told him what I have just told you. I can repeat anywhere that the house belonged to Alli.”
Rose Alli reacts
The eldest daughter of the late Ambrose Alli, Rose, told NDV on the phone a few days ago that the family would gladly accept the estate from the government.
She said the family has no document to claim the property because her father never said anything about it before he died.
She named those laying claim to the property as including one Major Ogbebor and another, Umukoro, from Delta State. She stated that previous chairmen of the committee informed her that the buildings belong to her father.
“That was what I was told. We have no document to claim it, and my father did not live long after the incarceration to disclose details about the building. I went to meet Sam Iredia, who served as Commissioner for Works under my father. I told him that people around Uwasota and the Chairman of Government Property told me about the buildings. He said yes, it was because we do not go there to claim it that others are laying claim to it.
“It was a contractor that built it for my dad to appreciate him, because it was in the then Bendel State that he got the highest contract among all the states controlled by the UPN.
“The contractor, Mr. Adeyemi, was the same man that brought the money my father was incarcerated for. He wanted to return the money before my dad’s burial. I told him to go and hold a press conference to say my father did not take the money as a kickback, as the military tribunal claimed.
“Late Sam Iredia said the buildings belong to my dad. He said it was Adeyemi who built them. I hope and pray that with this present administration, we will be able to reclaim the estate.
“The Chairman of Government Property called those laying claim to it, but they didn’t come. Some of them, like Major Ogbebor, I heard he is late. One Mr. Umukoro from Delta State sent his lawyer, who promised to bring documents, but no document was presented. Whenever they were called, they did not show up.
“We have never collected any money from that place. We will accept the estate if the government gives it to us. I got confirmation from Sam Iredia. It was a kind gesture. My father went to prison and suffered. We will take it.”
Okoloise Speaks
Chairman of the ESPPPC, Eugene Okoloise, who led his team to pay an assessment visit to the property, told NDV that investigation showed that the person who helped late Alli build the estate died without releasing documents. He said it was not appropriate for the Edo State Government to allow someone to sell the house which belonged to a former governor of the state.
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“That is the only property linked to Alli and the only thing he got as a governor. The house in Ekpoma is owned by Alli’s grandfather. The children came and said it was their father’s house. Our predecessors in office were collecting rent from the house, believing it belonged to the state government. We saw receipts issued for rent collection.
“The house actually belonged to Alli from our investigation, but it is for the state government to determine that. The person who lived in the house for 25 years said he was on that street when late Alli constructed the road to the estate because he owned it. Another person came to say Alli visited the area. Those who claimed to own the house are not coming forth to show ownership documents. They are not coming forth. We should be able to protect the legacy of Alli. If it is your house, bring papers to show proof. Governor Monday Okpebholo has the final say on what to do with the property.”
Residents’ appeal
Some residents appealed to Governor Okpebholo to use the opportunity to open up the area by rehabilitating the dilapidated roads so that they can enjoy the fact that a former governor is their neighbour, and to hand over the houses to Alli’s children.