Immediate past President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, has
described the accusations by the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC) that he purchased his Apo Residential House illegally
as spurious, contrived and baseless.
Mark was reacting to the claim by the anti-graft agency that he illegally acquired his then official residence as his private property.
Speaking through his media aide, Paul Mumeh, Mark said the EFCC or
any other agent of government were chasing shadows because the property
was dully offered for sale, bided for, and he purchased like any other
person would in line with Federal Government’s Monetization Policy that
was started during the time of President Olusegun Obasanjo.
He said “I had the right of first refusal. Even if I did not purchase it, someone else would have.
“I am a law-abiding citizen. I did not flout any law.
“Curiously, four houses occupied by the then Presiding Officers of
National Assembly were offered to the occupants. All of us, me as the
then President of the Senate, Deputy President of the Senate, Ike
Ekweremadu, the then Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji
Bankole and his Deputy Bayero Nafada were all given the same offer.
“I am at a loss as to why it is now a subject of contention.
“If this persecution is about politics, my political party and the
2019 elections, I dare say that only God and Nigerians would decide. No
amount of persecution would alter the will of God.
“I had refrained from commenting on this because it is already in the
law Court. But they have taken the matter to the Court of public
opinion.”
Senator Mark had through his lawyer, Ken Ikonne in the suit NO
FHC/ABJ/1037/2017 before the Federal High Court, Abuja had said that he
followed due process and legally acquired the property from the FCDA on
April 27, 2011.
He is also asking the Court for a declaration that an order by the
Attorney General of the Federation and one Obono Obla of the
Presidential Task Force on Recovery of Government Properties compelling
him to vacate the aforesaid property without affording him a fair
hearing, amounted to a denial of his fundamental human rights,
unconstitutional and void.
The former military boss recalled that the Federal Executive Council
decided to authorize the sale of the properties housing the principal
officers of the National Assembly because the general security of the
area had been altered/compromised due to the sale of the other houses in
the Legislative Quarters to the public.
Consequent upon which the houses were offered for sale and dully purchased.
Senator Mark was given the first option of refusal upon which he
dully accepted on April 21st 2011 and paid the agreed purchase price to
the adhoc committee on sale of Federal Government houses on April 27,
2011.