The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) has faulted the allocation of land for the building of Regeneration Church of God by former Governor, Gbenga Daniel of Ogun State.
Edu-Biznews recalled that Daniel has been facing a 32 count-charges including false assets declaration, missappropriation of public fund and illegal conversion of public landed property, since November,2011 when EFCC charged him for official corruption.
The Anti-Graft agency at the resumed hearing of the near 10 years old official corruption trial on Monday, told an Abeokuta High Court in Kobape, that the land allocated to the church at Oba Erinwole Street in Government Reservation Area(GRA) in Sagamu could not be traced by the layout plan, designed by the State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development.
EFCC lead counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria(SAN) during cross examination of the Daniel's witness, argued that plots eight,nine and eleven were allocated for the construction of the church by the State Bureau Of Land and Survey, without revocation of the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) of the original owners of the landed property.
The witness, a top official of the bureau could not trace the allocation of the church in the layout Survey plan for the Sagamu GRA, contrary to the composite survey plan of the church presented to the court as exhibit .
Also the witness could not trace the record of the application for land from the church's file with the bureau but quickly added that there was an application letter dated October 7, 2008.
EFCC however faulted the claim, saying that the land was illegally allocated to the church Incorporated on June 8, 2010 by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) two years before its registration.
The Anti-Graft agency explained to the court in one of its exhibits, that Daniel on May 14,2011,used his influence and power as former governor and signed the Certificate of Occupancy for the church where he has subsisting interest, two weeks to the end of his eight years tenure in office on May 29, 2011.
The trial judge, Justice Larewaju Mabekoje adjourned further hearing of the case, till February 26 and March 8, following an oral application by the EFCC lawyer, Rotimi Jacobs and agreement with Daniel's lawyer, Mrs Titilola Akinlawon(SAN).
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