…It is Not True-Sokoto Govt.
Governor Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State, kicked, slapped and detained an Estate Agent after purchasing a House for N120 Million in Garki, Abuja and refusing to pay Estate Agent fees, a petition currently before the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, says.
The Sokoto State Liaison officer, one Junaidu Haliru, who connived with State Government officials to deny Estate agents their fees, allegedly inflated the price of the Property located in Garki 2 Abuja from N110 Million to N120 Million.
But the State Government through the Commissioner for Information, Mallam Danladi Bako said Governor Wamakko could not have stoop so low to be involved in such barbaric behavior.
Bello Usman, the Estate agent, in a petition currently being investigated by the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, and exclusively obtained by Pointblanknews.com alleged that he was brutalized by Governor Wamakko, his Aide De Camp, ADC and Haliru at the NICON Luxury Hotel, Abuja, when he demanded to be paid agency fees.
“While at the hotel, the ADC to the Governor held one of my hand and the State Security Service, SSS, officer in mufti held the second hand behind and the Governor slapped me on my face, kicked me and Alhaji Junaid Haliru joined hands in beating me in the presence of Abdullahi A. Arkilla Sokoto and the police officers from the X-Squad pushed me down and dragged me on the floor and subsequently taken to the FCT Police Command Headquarters.”
According to Usman, “sometimes in April 2011, Alhaji Junaidu Haliru the Sokoto State Liaison Officer, Abuja, approached me that the Sokoto State Governor His Excellency Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko wanted to purchase a property within Garki Abuja. Though, I was not on ground to take him to the property but delegated my business partners namely Williams and Dans who conveyed him (Alh. Junaidu Haliru) to the property at Garki.”
Usman revealed that “The property was offered at N110, 000,00.00 but the Liaison Officer added N10, 000,000.00 and finally the property was purchased by His Excellency, Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko through his Liaison Officer Alhaji Junaidu Haliru at the rate of One Hundred and Twenty Million (N120, 000,000.00). Having inflated the price of Ten Million Naira only (N10, 000,000) to himself without the consent of His Excellency.”
“Although we held a meeting with the Liaison Officer Alhaji Junaidu Haliru and my partners Williams and Dans, about the payment of 5 per cent agency fees before the sale of the property and he assured us that our percentage would be given to us. But surprisingly, Alhaji Junaidu Haliru reneged in the verbal agreement and cheated us our dues and in a bid to demand for our percentage from him, he threatened to deal with me severely by any means. He also used the Police to dealt with us when we tried to see His Excellency on one of his visit to Abuja at the Sokoto State Liaising Office, Abuja.”
But Bako, the Commissioner for Information in a chat with Pointblanknews.com over the phone said the Governor never kicked, slapped or threatened Usman and could not have engaged in such act as a law-abiding citizen.
Bako, a veteran Journalist said the property was purchased by the Sokoto State Government to accommodate Sokoto Liaison Office staffers who do not have accommodation and to also serve as a Lodge for members of the Sokoto State Government officials on a visit to Abuja.
“It is not a personal property of the State Governor. The property was purchased to help ease out accommodation problems of Sokoto Liaison Office staffers. It will also accommodate any official of the state who is on a visit to Abuja,” Bako said.
He however acknowledged the dispute between the Liaison officer and the Real Estate Agents but said the agents may have exaggerated the story, as the Governor was in nowhere involved in brutalizing Usman as alleged.