Exposure of corrupt officials ‘ll fasten issuance of C of Os – Amosun

Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State has urged landlords and property owners who have subscribed to the state’s Homeowners Charter Scheme for which special discounts are placed on certificate of occupancy, to expose any corrupt officials that may demand bribes outside stipulated official charges for issuance of the C of O and other title documents.
The governor, who was represented by Abayomi Sobande, head of service on Thursday, at Arcade Ground, Oke Mosan, Abeokuta, shortly before presenting another batch of 1,000 C of Os to beneficiaries, said they should forward to the government any suggestions that could make the scheme more effective and ensure better service delivery.
He said, “We want you to expose any corrupt official or fraudster who may demand anything outside what is required under the scheme. We will prosecute any official involved in corrupt practice. We will continue to look into the process so as to make it faster. We are here to serve you better.”
Also, Ronke Sokefun, Commissioner for Urban and Physical Planning, said the people should report all perceived wrongdoings; bribe and extortion on the scheme to government, explaining that out of the over 170,000 applicants, 35,000 had paid for their applications and over 12,000 C of Os and title documents had been distributed by the government so far.
But, Adewale Oshinowo, Commissioner for Finance, said 77 percent of the of over 140,000 applicants have had their sites inspected, while the remaining 23 percent did not show up during inspection on their sites, adding that out of the 77 percent that had their sites inspected, 23 percent could not be involved due to non-conformity with preconditions for qualification.
He said, “Such property fall under those built under high tension cable, those occupying right- of -way of the NNPC or any major pipelines, those built on the ‘set-back’ of roads, water bodies, gullies and flood plains.
“Others are substandard or defective property, property subject to legal dispute, non-residential property, and inhabitable property.”
He said out of those that were adjudged qualified and issued payment advice, about half of them had made full payment.
While he, however, reaffirmed the present administration zero tolerance to all forms of bribery and extortion, as any staff caught has always been made to face the full weight of the law.
He said, “For avoidance of doubt, there is a case of some officials reported to have been involved in activities considered inimical to the objectives of the programme and they are being prosecuted in the appropriate court of law.”
 

RAZAQ AYINLA, Abeokuta