Former President of the Nigerian Senate, David Mark has explained the circumstances surrounding how he came to become the owner of his official lodge as the head of the Senate.
Mark, who was Senate President from 2007 to 2015, said he was offered the choice to buy his official residence by the Federal Government and he took it.
He said the same deal which was in line with the monetisation policy instituted by President Olusegun Obasanjo was also offered to Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, then House of Reps Speaker Dimeji Bankole and then Deputy Speaker Bayero Nafada.
However, the ex-Senate President is being probed by the EFCC and the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property.
But in a statement through his media aide, Paul Mumeh, the retired general said, “The property was ‘duly offered for sale, bid for, and purchased like any other person would in line with Federal Government’s Monetisation Policy that was started during the time of President Olusegun Obasanjo.
“I had the right of first refusal. Even if I did not purchase it, someone else would have.
“I am a law-abiding citizen. I did not flout any law.
“Curiously, four houses occupied by the then Presiding Officers of National Assembly were offered to the occupants. All of us, me as the then President of the Senate, Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, the then Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole and his Deputy Bayero Nafada were all given the same offer.
“I am at a loss as to why it is now a subject of contention.”
He added, “If this persecution is about politics, my political party and the 2019 elections, I dare say that only God and Nigerians would decide. No amount of persecution would alter the will of God.
“I had refrained from commenting on this because it is already in the law Court. But they have taken the matter to the court of public opinion.
“Senator Mark through his lawyer Ken Ikonne in the suit before the Federal High Court, Abuja had said that he followed due process and legally acquired the property from the FCDA on April 27, 2011.
“Senator Mark is also asking the court for a declaration that an order by the Attorney General of the Federation and one Obono Obla of the Presidential Task Force on Recovery of Government Properties compelling him to vacate the aforesaid property without affording him a fair hearing amounted to a denial of his fundamental human rights, unconstitutional and void.
“He recalled that the Federal Executive Council decided to authorise the sale of the properties housing the principal officers of the National Assembly because the general security of the area had been altered/compromised due to the sale of the other houses in the Legislative Quarters to the public.
“Consequent upon which the houses were offered for sale and duly purchased.
“Senator Mark was given the first option of refusal upon which he duly accepted on April 21st 2011 and paid the agreed purchase price to the ad hoc committee on sale of Federal Government houses on April 27, 2011.”