* Describes those accusing him of infringements as liars and mischief makers
By Stellamaries Amuwa
The Surveyor-General of the Federation, Surveyor Abudulganiyu Adebomehin, has declared that at no time did he sell any land belonging to the federal government.
According to him, according to Nigeria’s laws, “it is only the Presidential Advisory Committee or the Land Use and Allocation Committee that have the authority to sell federal government lands, if they obtained necessary approvals”.
He discountenance news stories making the round which claimed that he authorized the sale of some land belonging to the federal government in parts of the country, stressing that it was the figment of the imagination of those that concocted such falsehood”.
He also dismissed claims in some quarters that he did not obtain approval to travel to Korea, but provided the documentary approval for the trip by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation with reference number HCSF/PS/SD/167/T dated 10th October, 2024, to attend the 2024 K-Geo Fiesta in Kintex, Republic of Korea from 6th to 8th November, 2024.
He attributed the false allegations against him to the handiwork of some so-called Civil Society Organisations, whom he accused of being sponsored by someone who had been in the office, believing he is the one “sponsoring all the dirty publications to tarnish my image”.
He stated that rather than resort to smear campaigns, “I expect that even if one is aggrieved, you follow the protocol”.
He stated that in Kano State, even where the Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, via a letter dated 26th July, 2024, revoked the Surveyor-General’s office in the state in replacement for two bungalows in Bandirawo city in Kano, it cannot work because land conveyed to the federal government by any state government can no longer be revoked as such grant remains perpetual.
“Let me tell you, the Surveyor-General has no authority to sell any government land or property. It is only the Presidential Advisory Committee and Land Use and Allocation Committee that have the authority to sell federal government land. So, I don’t know how somebody can say the Surveyor-General sold any land.
“They said there was sale of government property, where is the receipt of sales or the property purchaser?”
He explained that some desperate persons hired some NGOs who approached them by a purported Freedom of Information Act, seeking to have access to what they did not know about and they were advised to follow due process.
Adebomehin vowed to follow the rules in carrying out the duties bestowed on him, adding that improving on the welfare of the staff, providing better trading for them and procuring latest equipments available globally, remains his priority, stressing that he would not be deterred.
The NGO through its spokesman, Danesi Momoh, falsely claimed that Adebomehin travelled to Korea without approval and also sold government lands in Kano, Imo and Kwara states.
