The Benue State Government has commenced a crackdown on the purchase and possession of illegally acquired landed assets in Makurdi, the state capital.
The action is being carried out through the Benue Investment and Property Company (BIPC) Limited, which has begun the recovery and sealing of disputed properties along George Akume Road and Nyesom Wike Road.
The exercise follows a directive by the state government to recover landed properties allegedly purchased illegally by some influential individuals in the state.
Speaking to journalists in Makurdi on Wednesday, the Group Managing Director (GMD) of BIPC, Dr. Raymond Asemakaha, explained that the company had taken over two premises—an empty fenced plot and a business plaza—as part of its ongoing efforts to reclaim government assets unlawfully occupied by land users.
Dr. Asemakaha said the management invoked the provisions of Edict 10 of 1995, which empowers BIPC to manage assets on behalf of the Benue State Government.
According to him, forensic investigations revealed that the land on Nyesom Wike Road was originally purchased by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for estate development before it was later sold to an individual. Further investigations indicated that in 2016, the then state government allegedly used a proxy account in the name of BIPC—an account that was reportedly closed immediately after the transaction—to acquire the land with public funds.
He accused some powerful individuals in the previous administration of diverting taxpayers’ money by purchasing the property in the name of BIPC and subsequently converting it for personal use.
The GMD said the decision to recover the property was taken after it was discovered that the supposed state investment yielded no returns, prompting management to trace the funds committed to the acquisition back to the disputed property.
Dr. Asemakaha disclosed that since reopening the investigation, no individual has come forward to claim ownership of the land. He added that BIPC remains open to engaging anyone who presents a legitimate claim, noting that key title documents, including the Certificate of Occupancy (CofO) and agreements with SEFIDA, are still in the company’s custody.
He further revealed that BIPC stationed officials at the sites after receiving intelligence that those behind the transactions were planning to sell both the land and the plaza, which were allegedly acquired through similar illegal means.
Dr. Asemakaha assured that the sealing of the properties is only the beginning, stating that BIPC has already briefed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate the matter and ensure justice for the state and its citizens. He added that any financial institution found to have aided the illegal transactions would also be held accountable.