Probe Controversy: Benue Transport Company Petitions Gov. Alia Over Premises Invasion

The management of a leading transport companies in Benue State, London Line Transport Company Ltd has petitioned Governor Hyacinth Alia over the invasion of its premises by the Assets Recovery Committee (ARC) set up by the state government.

Besides, the company is demanding for general damages to the tune of N5 billion.

The members of state Assets Recovery Committee on July 11, 2023, invaded the premises of London Line along Otukpo Road, Makurdi and carted away vehicles which they claimed were government vehicles by the immediate past Governor of the state, Samuel Ortom.

In a petition to Governor Alia dated July 14, 2023, signed by the Chief Executive Officer of London Line Transport Ltd, Chief Emmanual Viashima, the company stated that officials of the committee led by Barr. Tom Uja, forcefully broke into their premises, took stock of vehicles and carted them away.

The company said the committee members harassed alarmed workers who had started recording the invasion and seized some of their phones which were later returned.

Chief Viashima stated that when he got wind of the development, he rushed to the scene to see things for himself but on getting there, he was locked out of the premises and refused entry.

Shocked by the action of the committee, he quickly reached out to his landlords and lawyers who later arrived the scene, gained entry and upon enquiry, they were informed that there was a search warrant issued for the committee to impound any Hilux, Prado and GAC brand of vehicles as well as any bus found within the premises.

He revealed that his lawyers raised issues on the gestapo invasion against the practice and procedure of executing search warrants which demands a search of the officers seeking to carry out the search to forestall planting of incriminating exhibits.

Chief Viashima described purported search warrant “as patently, latently and inherently defective as it was not directed towards any named person or entity on the face of the said document which made its authenticity contestable”.

According to hom, in spite of the information by his team to the Committee that the vehicles belonged to companies and individuals, the Committee mobilized persons to line up the vehicles in a convoy to be videoed, thereby setting up his business for maximum damaging publicity which would impact negatively on the genuine business of the company.

Mr Viashima revealed that the company is already experiencing immediate consequences and direct fall out of the negative publicity as a result of the invasion.

Also, contrary to claims by the Asset Recovery Committee that 30 vehicles were towed away from the company’s premises, the CEO gave the number of vehicles forcefully taken away from the company by the committee as 32.

He debunked the claim that all the vehicles carted away as well as the workshop belong to former Governor Samuel Ortom.

He disclosed that the premises is only owned by his landlords, Oracle Business Ltd but London Line Transport Company Ltd has been in lawful occupation of the premises on lease where it carries out repairs and refurbishment services for many years to a wide range of clients, including the Benue State Government as records would bear.

He lamented that his wife’s Lexus 250 was terribly destroyed by the Committee in the process of forcibly tying and towing it away and proceeded to to itemize each of the 32 vehicle carted away, their owners and vehicle particulars.

The letter which was addressed to the governor was also copied to the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, National Human Rights Commission, the Inspector General of Police, Commissioner of Police, Benue State Command, President, Nigerian Bar Association, Abuja, Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association, Makurdi, Secretary to the Benue State Government, Chairman, Assets Recovery Committee, and the Tor Tiv.