By Mohamed Jaward Nyallay
A house worth US$2million is at the center of a controversy at the ongoing Commissions of Inquiry.
On Wednesday, a government property valuator, Olu Campbell, told Justice Biobele Goergewill that they had a strong suspicion that the house was bought by former government minister, Minkailu Mansaray under the name of his daughter, Umu Hawa Mansaray.
Minkailu Mansaray is the former Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources in the Ernest Bai Koroma administry. Mansaray and his colleague former ministers are under investigation by the commission for the assets they acquired whiles in office from 2007 to 2018.
This house, which is located at Bango Farm, Adonkia is registered under the name Umu Hawa Mansaray.
“The state suspected that the property was bought by Minkailu Mansaray under the name of his daughter Umu Hawa Mansaray,” Campbell said.
The lawyer who is defending Minkailu Mansaray was adamant that Miss Mansaray’s house should not even be discussed considering she is a private citizen.
“Umu Hawa Mansaray is a private citizen whose privacy we have eroded on live TV. She is not a public servant,” Macauley said whiles addressing Justice Georgewill.
Macauley read an Affidavit on which Miss Mansaray’s lawyer, Mohamed Sahid Bangura swore in August this year that the property in question belongs to Miss Mansaray.
The Affidavit stated that Umu Hawa Mansaray is a nurse practitioner in UK. She bought the property with her toil and sweat without any backing from anyone or any country.
Following Macauley’s reading of the Affidavit, Justice Goergewill then demanded that the lawyer who swore to the affidavit be present in the commission to go through cross examination on the affidavit.
In addition to this, Justice Goergewill also demanded supporting evidence like work history, bank statements and clear details on how she raised the money to own such property be brought forward.
“You don’t just say you own a property by just presenting an affidavit,” he said.
The lawyer of Miss Mansaray is expected to appear in front of the commission on Friday to defend the affidavit. It is not clear whether he will appear but Goergewill said Bangura’s appearance doesn’t bother him.
“I must test the veracity of the things he is claiming (in the affidavit). If he doesn’t come, I will just throw away the affidavit,” the Nigerian judge said.
There were times during his cross examination on Wednesday that Campbell clearly struggled with figures of his valuations.
This led Macauley to question the credibility of Campbell’s valuation of the property. He said it was not possible for him to properly evaluate the property considering he couldn’t enter the property.
“You said the property had aluminum roofing, but you didn’t enter the property. Such valuation cannot be guaranteed,” Macauley said.
Campbell responded whiles demonstrating his proximity to the building to Justice Georgewill , “I could see, I came very close to the property. I was 2ft away from the property.”
He said the only reason he could not access the property was because he was not allowed to enter. He said during the valuation exercise of some of the properties, his life was directly threatened.
“I went to one of the properties and we were chased away by men with machetes. They did not allow us in the building. I am grateful for being alive,” Campbell said.
Campbell further defended himself by constantly referencing his 35 years of experience.
Justice Goergewill repeatedly told the Defense Counsels for the Persons of Interest that they were free to make their own valuations of the properties and present them to the commission.
The house in Adonkia is not the only property under scrutiny at the commission. Minkailu Mansaray’s own house at Femi Turner Drive, Goderich is also under investigation.
Campbell said the value of the Goderich house is US$ 3.5 million.
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