By Damola Emmanuel
A real estate firm, Trademore International Holding Limited, has asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to remove its clamp on its properties within the next 48 hours or face legal action.
In a statement signed by the company’s legal representative, Mr. Nwoke John Kalu, Trademore International Holding Limitedacccused the anti-graft agency of sealing its estates in Abia State without lawful justification and without performing due diligence.
The clamped estates include: Luxury Apartments, Millennium Apartments, and Ogwumabiri Event Centre located along Bank Road and Finbars Road, Umuahia, the Abia State capital respectively.
Consequently, the company asks the EFCC to immediately remove the notice of seizure placed on the respective estates.
The company, in the statement, said the properties belonged to a private businessman but have been “wrongly marked” as properties of a certain PDP chieftain under the agency’s investigation. Consequently, Trademore denied that the said properties belonged to any politician or a PDP chieftain for that matter
It thumbed its chest, saying that they were a reputable establishment with many years of cognate experience in the real estate sector. It also lamented that the development could erode the trust of subscribers, a trust it had built steadfastly over the years.
“This shouldn’t be happening because it sends a bad signal to those planning to invest in Nigeria,” Trademore said in the statement. “There should be an enabling environment for businesses like ours to operate without being caught in political games or be victims of inaccuracies.”
The company didn’t stop there. It stated that it was owned by a successful developer who has been able to make a significant contribution to helping Nigeria deliver affordable housing to citizens through its estates in many of the states, including Enugu, Benue, Imo, Nasarawa, Lagos, as well as in Abuja.
In fact, the company claimed that the EFCC currently accommodate over 30 members of its staff in one of its estates in Abuja.
“Our company has no involvement in politics,”the company continued. “We are mainly focused on helping the country address its housing needs. Our decision to invest in Abia State is only in a bid to not only contribute to the state’s economy and provide decent affordable housing for the people, but to also provide opportunities for employment.”
The company, therefore, urged the EFCC to accede to its request and act speedily to enable it to return to normal business at the shortest time possible. It also said the anti-graft agency should tender an apology forthwith, as their integrity and the interest of their clients remain paramount to them.