From Tony Osauzo, Benin

Edo State House of Assembly has issued a two-day ultimatum to its former deputy speaker, Mrs Elizabeth Ativie, to return official vehicles in her possession to the House or face legal action.

The House, in a letter, said Ativie’s claim that the Prado Jeep was given to her by the former governor of the state, Adams Oshiomhole, was untrue as there was no evidence to show that the former governor and the leadership of the House took such a decision.

The letter sent through Ativie’s counsel, Olayiwola Afolabi & Co, was in response to an earlier letter written by the former deputy speaker to Speaker Kabiru Adjoto.

Clerk of the House, Mr. James Omoataman, explained that the leadership of the Assembly had screened the letter, the former deputy speaker said was issued to her by the former governor, as evidence that the vehicles were given to her.

“We have compared the signature of the former governor on the said letter and it is not genuine and we hope your client is aware of the consequences of parading such document.

“As your client will recall, the said vehicles were purchased for the use of the office of the speaker when your client occupied the office. Consequently, when she became the deputy speaker, the official vehicles were left with her office whilst alternative arrangement were made for the office of the speaker.

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“Despite the clarity of the above, your client deliberately skewed the words used in the purported letter from the former governor, claiming that the former governor wrote to say the vehicles were given to her, which is far from the truth. 

“Further, the original documents of the vehicles are still in the possession of the House of Assembly till date which means that title to the vehicles were never transferred or intended to be transferred to your client contrary to your client’s assertions.

“Accordingly, I hereby reiterate my instruction and demand your client’s immediate return of the vehicles attached to the office of the deputy speaker which are still in her possession.

“Finally, if your client maintains that she indeed sold one of the vehicles, the Lexus Jeep 2016 model, then we expect that your client will furnish us with the details of sales,” the House of Assembly letter said.

It warned further that “the House expects to receive all the said vehicles or the vehicles that have not been sold, together with the details of the alleged sale of the Lexus jeep as enumerated not later than two days from the date of receipt of this letter. Failure to do so will attract the necessary legal action, both civil and criminal against your client.”

Following the impeachment of the former speaker, Justine Okonoboh along with his deputy and majority leader of the House, Ativie and Foly Ogedengbe respectively, the House wrote to the affected former officials to return the official vehicles allocated to them.

But, Ativie refused to comply with the directive. She claimed the vehicles allocated to her office-two Hilux vans, a Prado Jeep and Lexus Jeep (2016 Model) were given to her by former governor Oshiomhole in her personal capacity and that she had already sold the Lexus SUV (Jeep).