BREAKING: Man Commit Sui¢ide Over Seized Presidential Jets
A Nigerian professor of political economy and management expert, Pat Utomi has accused former Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun, of violating contract terms signed by his predecessor, leading to the controversial seizure of jets from the presidential fleet.
Utomi also alleged that a prominent Ogun indigene committed suicide as a result of actions similar to those taken by Amosun.
Naija News House earlier reported that the Ogun State Government had vowed to resist any attempts at blackmail and theatrics aimed at extorting or embarrassing Nigeria in connection with the recent seizure of presidential aircraft.
The controversy stems from an application by Zhongshan, a Chinese company, whose export processing zone management contract was revoked by the Ogun State government in 2016.
A French court recently impounded three Nigerian government-owned jets due to the protracted legal dispute with a Chinese firm, Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment.
The dispute originated from a 2007 agreement between the Chinese company and Ogun State, Nigeria, to establish a free-trade zone and industrial park.
However, the contract was terminated between 2015 and 2016, leading to a prolonged legal battle.
Utomi, in a statement posted on his X account on Sunday, said, “The whole matter is Khama at work. The Chinese were not the only victims; a prominent Ogun indigene allegedly committed suicide due to similar actions by Amosun.”
According to Utomi, he was also a victim.
He said, “I had leased OPIC land in Lagos through a BOT agreement under Governor Daniel. However, when Amosun was sworn in, he halted all such agreements.
“I called him, and he said he did not see my name on the list. I went to Abeokuta, and he contacted Yewande Amusan, who stated that mine was a straightforward deal and had not been included.
“He asked that all be included but mine be quickly sorted. That began a rigmarole that went on for years. I made another trip to Abeokuta. He drove me back to Lagos at the wheels with my driver trailing along with the escorts and sirens.”
Meanwhile, Utomi said Amosun had earlier asked he should “make a request for refund of what I paid even though my South African partners and I had invested 200m in addition to the lease amount at the time”.
He continued, “With just two of us in the car he advised I make a claim for 100m and write for additional payments the day after I cash the cheque. It was surreal but if I got nothing more it would be better than being in court until we both retire.
“I took the case to APC leader BAT and Baba Akande. No result. Took it to Dapo Abiodun when he took over. Nothing came of it. If this happened to Frieda I wondered what enemies were going through.”
He said that he lost his weary South African partners who owned a successful regional chain across Southern Africa and Asia because of the botched deal.
“I licked my wounds and slaved to pay off the loans. The Chinese had better leverage.
“They took it and all are shamed. My new book Power Policy Politics and Performance documents a similar case study in Enugu involving SA investors as the gubernatorial batons changed hands. When shall we learn. Values shape human progress,” he added.
