Former Edo deputy speaker vows not to return official vehicle

DESPITE her removal from office on Monday, a former Deputy Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Mrs Elizabeth Ativie, has vowed not to return her official vehicles allocated to her office as she insisted that the vehicles were personally given to her by the immediate past governor of the state, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.

In a letter to the Clerk of the Edo State House of Assembly, Mr James Omoataman titled, “Re: Return of Official Vehicles”, through her counsel, Mr Olayiwola Afolabi, she stated that former Governor Adams Oshiomhole signed a letter dated 19, July 2016 giving the vehicles to her in acknowledgement of the sacrifices she was expected to make for the peace, security and well- being of the state.

The Clerk of the House had in his letter to the former Deputy Speaker dated 14, August 2017, directed her to return the official vehicles which included one Lexus Jeep- 2016 Model, One Prado Jeep and two Hilux Vans as Deputy Speaker and handover the keys of the vehicles to him on or before the close of work on Tuesday, 15 August 2017.

However, Mrs Ativie in a bid to buttress her ownership of the vehicles, quoted part of the letter written by the former governor which said, “I wish to convey my compliments and recall the discussion between the leadership of the Edo State House of Assembly and the Executive branch on the geo-political stability of Edo State and the need to engender equity, fairness and sense of belonging amongst all sections and citizens of our dear state.

“Given the exceptional circumstances surrounding the issues and in an explicit acknowledgement of the enormous sacrifices you were required to make for the peace, security, stability and well-being of our beloved state, the official vehicles attached to the office of the Speaker are now yours.”

She stated that the current Speaker, Mr Kabiru Adjoto was who was the then Chief Whip of House led a delegation of the House to her Executive Arm of government where the decision to give her as the then Speaker the official vehicles was taken and implemented.

She explained that thereafter, she went to the license office with the said letter by the former governor to register the vehicles in her name.

She therefore urged the Clerk of the House to advised the State Legislature properly as he was in the best position to do so in view of the facts presented above.