Return vehicles or face trial, Edo Assembly tells ex-deputy speaker

The Edo State House of Assembly has issued a two-day ultimatum
to its former deputy speaker, Mrs. Elizabeth Ativie, to return her
official vehicles to the House or face civil and criminal
litigation.

This came few days after Ativie, who was impeached along with
the former Speaker, Dr. Justin Okonoboh, last Monday, told the
House that she would not return the vehicles, which she claimed
were given to her for personal use by former governor Adams
Oshiomhole in a letter dated June 16.

The vehicles, comprising a 2016 Lexus jeep, one Prado jeep and
two Hilux vans, were in her official possession when she was
Speaker of the House.

She had in a letter, through her lawyer, on August 16 also urged
the Clerk of the House, Mr. James Omoataman, to properly advise her
colleagues on the matter, adding that the Lexus jeep had been
sold.

But the House, in a letter of response addressed to Ativie’s
lawyer, dismissed her claim, even as it said that there was no
evidence to show that the former governor and the leadership of the
House took such a decision.

The leadership of the House said that having screened the
letter, which she claimed was issued to her by Oshiomhole, it
discovered that the signature of the ex-governor was allegedly
forged.

It also stated that the said vehicles had been left in her
possession while alternative arrangements were being made for her
successor.

The House explained, “We have compared the signature of the
esteemed former governor on the said letter and it is not genuine
and we hope your client is aware of the consequences of parading
such a 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 arrangements were made for the office of the
Speaker.

“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 the title to
the vehicles was never transferred or intended to be transferred to
your client, contrary to your client’s assertions.

It added, “Accordingly, I hereby restate 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 sale.”

The Edo State House of Assembly has issued a two-day ultimatum
to its former deputy speaker, Mrs. Elizabeth Ativie, to return her
official vehicles to the House or face civil and criminal
litigation.

This came few days after Ativie, who was impeached along with
the former Speaker, Dr. Justin Okonoboh, last Monday, told the
House that she would not return the vehicles, which she claimed
were given to her for personal use by former governor Adams
Oshiomhole in a letter dated June 16.

The vehicles, comprising a 2016 Lexus jeep, one Prado jeep and
two Hilux vans, were in her official possession when she was
Speaker of the House.

She had in a letter, through her lawyer, on August 16 also urged
the Clerk of the House, Mr. James Omoataman, to properly advise her
colleagues on the matter, adding that the Lexus jeep had been
sold.

But the House, in a letter of response addressed to Ativie’s
lawyer, dismissed her claim, even as it said that there was no
evidence to show that the former governor and the leadership of the
House took such a decision.

The leadership of the House said that having screened the
letter, which she claimed was issued to her by Oshiomhole, it
discovered that the signature of the ex-governor was allegedly
forged.

It also stated that the said vehicles had been left in her
possession while alternative arrangements were being made for her
successor.

The House explained, “We have compared the signature of the
esteemed former governor on the said letter and it is not genuine
and we hope your client is aware of the consequences of parading
such a 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 arrangements were made for the office of the
Speaker.

“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 the title to
the vehicles was never transferred or intended to be transferred to
your client, contrary to your client’s assertions.

It added, “Accordingly, I hereby restate 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 sale.”