By Chuwang Dungs, Gombe

Contrary to reports presented by the Gombe State asset recovery committee, set up by Governor Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya, that the immediate past deputy governor of the State, Mr. Charles Iliya, voluntarily surrendered luxury vehicles in his possession to the committee, Mr. Iliya said armed police men raided his Gombe residence without notice and forcefully took the vehicles.

The Ex-deputy governor who said the police operatives, forced their way into his home at about 5am, described the search on his house as an act of “injustice”.

He equally claimed that the policemen went away with his 3 SUV vehicles, which he said he obtained following due process.

Explaining the development to newsmen in Gombe on Tuesday, the former deputy Governor who felt he was not fairly treated stated, “A few weeks ago, I received a letter from the committee set up by the state government to recover all properties of government illegally disposed of.

“ Just a day in between, I received some visitors comprising almost entirely policemen, standing along the street in front of my house while some came into my premises.

“Four of the policemen led by one senior police officer whose name I cannot recollect now, came into my parlour and all were carrying guns. They said they came to recover properties in my possession.

“ I was shown a search warrant and that convinced me that truly they are members of the committee and I explained to them how I got the cars.

“ I gave them the letter of allocation and the receipt of payment because they (cars) weren’t given freely; I bought them.

He said he wrote a memo and the vehicles were properly assessed and he paid for the cars and that has been the trend in Gombe State, whenever there is a change of government the outgoing government auctions some properties to its officials. Because the life span of government vehicles has always been four years.

“ After showing them the proof they insisted on collecting the cars. The word voluntary that followed after is what I don’t understand.

“ The word voluntary would have meant after receiving their letter, I would have either taken the vehicles to them or told them please come and collect your vehicles.

“ But in a situation whereby there are people outside my house with guns, inside my premises with guns and in my parlour with guns and insisted they want the cars?

“ I leave the subject matter to the public to interpret whether that was a voluntary action,” he said.

He said three cars were ‘forcefully’ taken from him which he listed as one Lexus jeep and two Prado jeeps that were his official cars while in office.

The ex deputy governor said he was waiting for the committee to return his cars or money, adding that if it fails to do so, he would seek redress.

He stressed that he felt bad that after serving the state, he was isolated out of many for such treatment.

He added: “ Since I am the only odd one given this kind of treatment, I feel some injustice has been done to me.”

Investigations by our correspondent revealed that the committee, since inaugurated has embarked on similar operations of harassing and intimidating officials of the past government to forcefully recover properties which they alleged were disposed to them illegally.

Some of those that have suffered similar experiences, according to our findings are, the immediate past Principal Personal Secretary (PPS) to the former Governor, Sani Jauro, the Chief of Staff and some commissioners.