The governor added that to fulfill all righteousness, the government waited for the court to deliver its judgment, which it did on December 16, last year, ordering the university authorities to vacate the said property “forthwith” ruling that the 18 property belonged to the state government.
According to him, having waited from December 16, 2014 for the illegal tenants to vacate the property and they refused, the government took steps granted by the court to recover the property in the interest of the people of the state.
Fielding questions from journalists on the issue, Oshiomh*** said that as the governor, he has a duty and responsibility to hold in trust and protect all assets belonging to the people of Edo State that were entrusted to the government of the state.
On how the property got to the university authorities, he said: “As I am sure you will recall, when UNIBEN was set up, the then Military Governor, Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia, in his wisdom, decided as a young institution to assist some of the officers and staff with accommodation and so, some houses were made available to accommodate some of the staff of UNIBEN.
“However, they had occupied these property without paying any rent to Edo State Government but a couple of years ago, just before I assumed office as governor, the Federal Government in line with the policy of monetization under which salaries of employees including other allowances were abolished so that rather than provide these for certain categories of public officers, they were to be paid in lieu of either official quarters or cars.
“As a result of the decision, my predecessor in office, Prof Oserheimen Osunbor, disputed the claim of the Federal Government and the University of Benin that these assets from our records were assets of Edo State Government.”
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