By Akume Raphael.

The Commission of Inquiry probing the sale, lease and moribund State Government properties by the immediate past administration, has requested Benue State Water Board to provide relevant documents in the supply and installation of equipment for the Greater Makurdi Water Works project for cross examination.

It also directed the General Manager to provide evidence in the sale of its vehicles and landed property at Yaikyo including the land that was allocated to the board as its permanent head office in Makurdi and the land at Wannune, Tarka Local Government Area that was demolished for the construction of transmission line to Apir.

The Commission made the request when the General Manager of Water Board, Daniel Okanche appeared before it to testify.

The Justice Apollos Idi led panel observed that some of the relevant documents in the transactions were not submitted before it, expressing concern that due process was not followed in some of the deals, while also wondering that the agency which was established in 1979 is still operating at a temporary site.

The Water Board General Manager during cross examination by the Lead Counsel, Victor Nyamtamen, told the court that many of the board’s properties were sold illegally by his predecessor.

Mr Okanche stated that at the moment, the Water Board Area branches in Gboko and Katsina- Ala are no longer functional, with that of Otukpo providing epileptic services, while there is only one tanker supplying water to some parts of Makurdi metropolis which are Wurukum, High-level, Wadata and Old GRA at a fee.

He explained that the Greater Makurdi Water Works which has the capacity to supply water to the whole of Makurdi is under utilized as contract for reticulation of pipelines was yet to be awarded to expand supply to other parts of the metropolis.

The Commission also directed the Ministry of Health and human services to provide documents for the waiver of Hilux vehicle after it discovered that a new Toyota Hilux was purportedly waived by the former Governor but there was no evidence supporting the claim.