$18.3bn Abuja centenary city: Reps order prosecution of Anyim, say project illegal

The House of Representatives has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission to prosecute a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation,  Anyim Pius Anyim, for his role in the acquisition of land for the controversial multi-billion dollar Abuja Centenary City Project.

Lawmakers took the decision in Abuja on Thursday after they considered and adopted the report of the House Committee on Federal Capital Territory, which investigated the alleged “abuses” of the project.

The House resolved that the ex-SGF and other “promoters” of the project should be prosecuted and public funds spent on it recovered for the Federal Government.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan had approved the project in 2014 to commemorate Nigeria’s centenary anniversary.

Anyim, a former President of the Senate, was the driver of the project, valued to gulp $18.376b.

The public land acquired for the city covered 1,267 hectares.

But, the committee, in its report to the House, said the promoters of the project abused Jonathan’s presidential directives and also flouted existing laws guiding the Abuja land swap policy to suit personal and other business interests.

The committee, which is chaired by a member of the All Progressives Congress from Benue State, Mr. Herman Hembe, had laid its report before the House on March 8.

On Thursday (today), lawmakers in the Committee of the Whole approved the recommendations of the committee.

Among the promoters listed for prosecution along with Anyim are a former Minister of the FCT, Mr. Bala Mohammed; Ms. Boma Ozobia; and Mr. Paul Oki.

Ozobia and Oki are the sole directors of Centenary City Plc, a firm incorporated for the sole purpose of executing the project