Gov. Udom to vacate Govt. House due to 2billion naira dept

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel is on the verge of being evicted from the Government House as the architects who designed the Akwa Ibom State Government House has asked governor to vacate the Government House complex over a N2bn debt.

Mr. Ubokutom Nyah, the architect who hails from Essien Udim, hometown of former Governor Godswill Akpabio, is seeking a court order to restrain the state government and its agents access to the facilities.

The Government House complex also houses the office and residential quarters of the deputy governor, office of the
Secretary to the State Government and the Head of Civil Service, office of Local government and Chieftaincy Affairs and Banquet Hall.

Nyah's action is contained in suit number HU/147/2016 filed in the Uyo High Court between the applicant, OttoTrinity Studios led by Nyah and the state government as first defendant and the state attorney general as the second defendant.

Speaking with journalists in Uyo on Sunday, Nyah said the only option left for government is to vacate the
complex over its refusal to complete payment for the firm’s professional services.

According to Nyah, he only received N16,744,041.91 in 2015 as part payment for his professional fees out of
N872,414,409.40.

He explained that despite an outstanding debt N1,286,347,837.30, he and his colleagues continued to render their services to the government as stated in their contract till January 2016.

He stated that at this time, the debt had grown to N2,133,547,837.30.

He added that he was the chief resident architect commissioned alongside one principal resident architect, one senior resident architect, and one resident architect to render professional services in respect of the now completed Government House Uyo, Phases II and III from January 2012-2016.

The motion on notice read: “An order of this honourable court directing the defendants to pay the sum of N2,133,547,837.30 and interest of 2.5 per cent above prevailing bank rate from February, 2016 till date to the Registrar of this honourable court, who shall lodge same in a reputable commercial bank, in an interest yielding account, pending
the hearing and determination of this case “An order of interlocutory injunction restraining the defendants, their agents, assigns, privies, servants and
workmen from further occupying, entering or making use of the Government House Complex, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State in any manner whatsoever until payment of the sum of N2,133,547,837.30 and interest of 2.5 percent above prevailing bank rate from February, 2016 till date as aforestated or pending the hearing and determination of this case.”