ReportsNG
A government-owned property belonging to the Nigerian Law School, Yola Campus, has been found to be occupied by a private vendor who built a permanent supermarket on the land without any documented lease agreement, rental payment record, or evidence of outright acquisition, according to a recent review of the institution’s records.
The review, which examined compliance with financial regulations, cited FR 2009 para 112(i) as the relevant provision governing the management of government property.
According to the findings, a vendor constructed a permanent supermarket/shop on Law School land at the Yola Campus. However, no formal lease agreement, record of rental payments, or documentation of outright acquisition could be produced. Furthermore, the identity and details of the vendor were not made available to investigators.
The review identified serious risks arising from the situation, including encroachment on government property and the potential loss of government property.
In response to the findings, management explained that the relevant document was unavailable at the time of the visit because the officer who held it was absent. Management further stated that due to a shortage of funds to develop parts of the empty land at Yola, it allowed an outsider to develop the property under an arrangement where the vendor’s development costs would be offset against rent owed, deducted monthly until exhausted.
