By Abasi Ita, Calabar
Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River has ordered a thorough probe into the purported sales of valuable property worth billions of naira belonging to the University of Cross River State, Unicross by members of the dissolved governing council of the state owned tertiary institution.
Special Adviser to the state governor on Asset Management and Recovery, Gilbert Agbor Esq who dropped the hints revealed that a directive to that effect dated March 19, 2025, has been issued on the order of Governor Bassey Otu, demanding an urgent investigation into of unauthorized auctioning of the said government assets.
According to him, “The government has requested a full list of all auctioned assets; official approvals and Governing Council resolutions related to the sale, and copies of auctioning guidelines and any public advertisements carried out in the process leading to the auction sales.
“Others are a list of individuals and entities that acquired the assets; proof of payments, including account details, total proceeds, and how the funds were managed”, he stated.
Agbor added that the present government is undaunted and resolute in promoting transparency, accountability, and the proper management of public assets while any breaches
of the law will be severely dealt with.
Further probes revealed that the controversial sales was conducted by members of the immediate past Governing Council of the institution.
Government action is triggered by the furores generated over the incident following multiple petitions from concerned individuals accusing the council of flagrant disregard to auction processes, gross violation of procurement laws culminating in the secret selling of public properties to themselves.
Summit Post News was authoritively informed that the illegal sales took place between May and August 2024 and involved approximately 400 items.
The sold items include eight industrial generating plants including one a 500KVA generator installed in 2015.
Others are vehicles most of which were donated to the institution by the administration of Governor Ben Ayade.
Findings revealed members of the dissolved governing council allegedly procured the assets directly thereby contravening the legal requirement for public advertisement under the Public Procurement Act.
Competent source said ” In auctioning the assets, the school merely issued a notice and circular, raising suspicions of a deliberate attempt to conceal the transactions.