By Mumini AbdulKareem
The Kwara State Government, last night, cleared the air over whether the state House of Assembly report on Harmony Holdings has been received.
The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Isiaka Sola Gold confirmed the receipt of the House report even as he assured that the government is working on it and would make a pronouncement soon.
Gold in a telephone chat with our reporter said, “the House resolutions in respect of Harmony Holdings have been passed to the executive” adding that it is already been looked at.
Although this medium gathered from an impeccable source in the House, that the report had been sent to the executive, the Clerk of the House, Alhaji Muhammed Katsina who neither confirmed nor denied the development pleaded for time to confirm the development.
In a telephone chat, yesterday, Katsina told National Pilot that, “I can only confirm that to you from the office and I am not there now. Except I check when I get to the office tomorrow”, he added.
The House recently ordered the immediate dissolution of the board and management of Harmony Holdings Limited (HHL) over alleged misappropriation of Kwara Government Assets in Abuja, Kwara, Lagos and Kaduna states.
The order was part of the resolutions of the House adopted after the report of its Ad-hoc Committee on Allegations of Misappropriation Relating to Government Assets under the care of HHL chaired by House Leader, Hon Hassan Oyeleke.
According to the House resolution, Harmony Holdings’ management were ordered to refund N51.4million while its Executive Director, one Mr Sanni Adebayo was requested to refund N20 million market value of a land he acquired at Casement Road, GRA in Ilorin.
Adebayo was further directed to pay another sum of N500,000 as rent due within 90 days.
Other resolution of the committee included the call for the appointment of a new board and management for the company. It also urged Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed to consider appointing highly experienced and business orientated personnel as the Administrator of HHL and management of its board in line with provision of the Company and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) to take charge of property and account of the firm.
The Speaker, Dr Ali Ahmad while reading the resolutions of the House, directed the state Ministry of Justice to determine all monies paid into the personal account of Mr Sanni Adebayo and refund same to the state government’s coffers within 90 days.
Ahmad further directed the current tenant of Tourist Kitchen, Ilorin to vacate the property within 21 working days while the Ministry of Justice fine tune all legal technicalities and award the property to new client.
He charged the committee to investigate ownership status of “Patigi Regatta Hotel, Stadium Shopping Complex and Gateway Plaza Abuja and report back in eight weeks.
Other members of the committee include Hon Kamal Fagbemi, Hon AbdulRasheed Taiwo, Emmanuel Funsho Abodurin, AbdulKadir Segilola, Victoria Bunmi Afolayan and Hon Ahmed Ibn Muhammed.
Many of those said to be involved in the alleged massive graft according to the House report acquired choice property and lands at high brow location in Lagos, Abuja, Kaduna and Ilorin.
The House said its six months finding showed that some of the property and lands were allegedly ridiculously undervalued and many others sold to self and cronies at outrageous prices.
Since the House resolution, professional bodies and resource persons in the state including NBA, NLC and Kwara Rebirth Ambassadors have called for the alleged perpetrators to face justice and be brought to book.
