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Ex-MD drags FG to court over coal corporation property

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A former Managing Director of the Nigeria Coal Corporation, NCC, Sir Evarist Ibe has nursed fears over plans to eject him from his residence.

He has therefore, dragged four agencies of the Federal government with its consultant, C.A Chizea & Co to the National Industrial Court Enugu division, for government’s inability to include him in the privatization of the properties of the NCC.
Ibe, who was the MD of NCC between 2012 and 2015, was allocated No 7 Colliery Avenue, GRA Enugu, as his official residence.

At the commencement of the privatization of the properties of the NCC, he applied to be conceded his official residence like most other staff , who did not previously partook in any other privatization of federal government’s property.

Ibe said he was, however, shocked that whereas his colleagues had concluded their processes, the Bureau for Public Enterprises, PBE, through its consultant, C.A Chizea, was yet to act on his application from 2012 till date.

He said that all attempts he made to be informed of the true situation regarding his intention to buy 7 Colliery Avenue GRA Enugu, where he still resided, were met with silence from both the BPE and Chizea & Co.

The retired staff is, therefore, asking the court to declare that he is entitled to right of first refusal as part of his fringe benefits to bid for the property before it can be offered to the public.

He is seeking for court’s declaration that any offer made to any third party or non sitting tenant employee, contrary to the approved guidelines for sale of federal government’s properties, is illegal and ineffectual.

Ibe is also asking the court to compel the BPE to issue him offer letter to enable him exercise his right of first refusal to purchase his tenanted apartment and an order of perpetual injunction restraining the agencies of the federal government from offering the property for sale to the public without exhausting right of first refusal.

Respondents to the suit No NICN/EN/03/2017 include the Director General of BPE, the Principal Partner C.A Chiezea & Co, the Minister for Mines and Steel Development, the Nigeria Coal Corporation and the Attorney General of the Federation.

The earlier date of Monday March 20, fixed for the hearing, has been shifted indefinitely.