Alleged N369m Deal: Police Trail Hunkuyi as Senator Refuses to Honour Invitation

Ugo Aliogo

With his refusal to honour its invitation over investigation into a N369 million deal, the Nigeria Police Force is on the trail of Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi.

The force may also declare the senator wanted if it could not effect his arrest.

The police had on August 3, 2018 invited Hunkuyi and the Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Kaduna State chapter, Mr. Adamu Ango, for interaction in connection with a N369 million failed project.

While Ango reported to the police, Hunkuyi was yet to appear before the Inspector General Tactical Squad, Force Headquarters in Abuja.

He was scheduled to interact with an Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mr. Sanusi Mohammed, on behalf of Deputy Commissioner of Police (IG Tactical Squad, Force Headquarters).

But there were indications that the embattled senator and some of his colleagues were seeking amicable settlement with the petitioner who filed a brief with the police.

A top police officer, who spoke on the case yesterday, said: “In the last 27 days, we have been waiting for Hunkuyi. We have trailed him to his residence in Kaduna last weekend but he was nowhere to be found.

“It has been difficult to track his location because his known phones, including a Benin Republic mobile line, had been switched off. “The police may have no choice than to declare him wanted if he does not show up for interaction.

“All those mentioned in the case have appeared before the police including the NLC leadership in Kaduna State and the Kaduna Geographical Information System (KADGIS) except the senator.”

It was learnt that the affected senator and some of his colleagues have been seeking amicable settlement of the case before Hunkuyi could report to the police.

One of the associates of the senator said: “Hunkuyi is a reliable Nigerian, he is not dubious. It is a case of a business challenge which we are trying to resolve amicably.

“Some of the colleagues and political associates of Hunkuyi are reaching out to the complainant.”

A copy of the petition before the police gave insights into the deal. The complainant said: Sometimes in late 2015, the senator asked a company to partner with his firm called Sahel Technical Services Limited for the construction of a Shopping Complex on part of the parcel of land located on Independence Way Kaduna otherwise known as Nigeria Labour House.

“As the exploratory discussions were ongoing on the partnership option, Hunkuyi also offered the remainder of the said parcel of land measuring approximately 3,007m2 to the complainant for the construction of a Filling Station.

“After a lengthy negotiation, a sale price of N100,000,000 for the 3,007M2 portion of the parcel of land was arrived at and the said sum paid into an account.

“At the point of negotiation, Senator Hunkuyi made some assurances and concluded the transactions. These assurances included but not limited to the fact that his company had out rightly purchased the entire parcel of land covered by Kaduna State Government Certificate of Occupancy No. 16066 and in support of that assertion, furnished unregistered copies of signed Power of Attorney, Deed of Assignment and Sale Agreement between Sahel Technical Services Limited and NLC Kaduna State chapter.

“He went further to confirm that the Kaduna State Government ‘KDSG’ had granted a building approval for the construction of a Shopping Complex on parcel of land covered by Certificate of Occupancy No. KD. 16066 while also stating that KDSG was at the time, in the process of issuing title documents in respect of 3,007m2 for the filling station.

“In furtherance of the above, Hunkuyi introduced Abdullahi Shukura to the affect firm as liaison person with instructions to register/transfer ownership/title to Sahel Technical and to conclude the processing of building approvals with KADGIS and KASUPDA respectively.

“ In addition, Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi appointed Abdullahi Shukura as the project manager for the construction of the Shopping Complex and in furtherance of the appointment, the firm has so far disbursed N289,000,000. Its is important to note that presently the sum of N80,000,000 has accrued as interest on the above disbursed sum bring the total to N369,000,000.

“Shortly after our client paid the purchase price for the 3,007M2 and started disbursing monies to Abdullahi Shukura it realised that there was no Deed of Assignment and Building plans to be processed at KADGIS and KASUPDA.

“The representatives of Kaduna State chapter of the NLC visited the plot requesting on whose mandate our client was undertaking the construction works.

“Soon after, officials of KASUPDA visited the site to demand building approvals for both the Shopping Complex and Filling Station.

“Also the purported transfer of title in favour of Sahel Technical was and still stalled despite Hunkuyi acting jointly and in conceit with Abdullahi Shukura purportedly procured a Deed of Assignment from NLC Kaduna State chapter acting through its chairman and secretary.

“Finally, KASUPDA issued a ‘Stop Work’ order on both sites for building without an approved building plan.

“At this juncture, the affected firm immediately informed Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi and Abdullahi Shukura of the challenges and were once again assured that all will be resolved for it to continue the developments.”

The complainant said it had been difficult to recover the N269million from Hunkuyi and Abdullahi Shukura.

With his refusal to honour its invitation over investigation into a N369m deal, the Nigeria Police Force is on the trail of Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi.

The force may also declare the senator wanted if it could not effect his arrest.

The police had on August 3, 2018 invited Hunkuyi and the Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Kaduna State chapter, Mr. Adamu Ango for interaction in connection with a N369million failed project.

While Ango reported to the police, Hunkuyi was yet to appear before the Inspector General Tactical Squad, Force Headquarters in Abuja.

He was scheduled to interact with an Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mr. Sanusi Mohammed on behalf of Deputy Commissioner of Police (IG Tactical Squad, Force Headquarters).

But there were indications that the embattled senator and some of his colleagues were seeking amicable settlement with the petitioner who filed a brief with the police.

A top police officer, who spoke on the case yesterday, said: “In the last 27 days, we have been waiting for Hunkuyi. We have trailed him to his residence in Kaduna last weekend but he was nowhere to be found.

“It has been difficult to track his location because his known phones, including a Benin Republic mobile line, had been switched off.

“The police may have no choice than to declare him wanted if he does not show up for interaction.

“All those mentioned in the case have appeared before the police including the NLC leadership in Kaduna State and the Kaduna Geographical Information System (KADGIS) except the senator.”

It was learnt that the affected senator and some of his colleagues have been seeking amicable settlement of the case before Hunkuyi appears could report to the police.

One of the associates of the senator said: “Hunkuyi is a reliable Nigerian, he is not dubious. It is a case of a business challenge which we are trying to resolve amicably.

“Some of the colleagues and political associates of Hunkuyi are reaching out to the complainant.”

A copy of the petition before the police gave insights into the deal.

The complainant said: Sometimes in late 2015, the senator asked a company to partner with his firm called Sahel Technical Services Limited for the construction of a Shopping Complex on part of the parcel of land located on Independence Way Kaduna otherwise known as Nigeria Labour House.

“As the exploratory discussions were ongoing on the partnership option, Hunkuyi also offered the remainder of the said parcel of land measuring approximately 3,007m2 to the complainant for the construction of a Filling Station.

“After a lengthy negotiation, a sale price of N100,000,000 for the 3,007M2 portion of the parcel of land was arrived at and the said sum paid into an account.

“At the point of negotiation, Senator Hunkuyi made some assurances and concluded the transactions. These assurances included but not limited to the fact that his company had out rightly purchased the entire parcel of land covered by Kaduna State Government Certificate of Occupancy No. 16066 and in support of that assertion, furnished unregistered copies of signed Power of Attorney, Deed of Assignment and Sale Agreement between Sahel Technical Services Limited and NLC Kaduna State chapter.

“He went further to confirm that the Kaduna State Government ‘KDSG’ had granted a building approval for the construction of a Shopping Complex on parcel of land covered by Certificate of Occupancy No. KD. 16066 while also stating that KDSG was at the time, in the process of issuing title documents in respect of 3,007m2 for the filling station.

“In furtherance of the above, Hunkuyi introduced Abdullahi Shukura to the affect firm as liaison person with instructions to register/transfer ownership/title to Sahel Technical and to conclude the processing of building approvals with KADGIS and KASUPDA respectively.

“ In addition, Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi appointed Abdullahi Shukura as the project manager for the construction of the Shopping Complex and in furtherance of the appointment, the firm has so far disbursed N289,000,000. Its is important to note that presently the sum of N80,000,000 has accrued as interest on the above disbursed sum bring the total to N369,000,000.

“Shortly after our client paid the purchase price for the 3,007M2 and started disbursing monies to Abdullahi Shukura it realised that there was no Deed of Assignment and Building plans to be processed at KADGIS and KASUPDA.

“The representatives of Kaduna State chapter of the NLC visited the plot requesting on whose mandate our client was undertaking the construction works.

“Soon after, officials of KASUPDA visited the site to demand building approvals for both the Shopping Complex and Filling Station.

“Also the purported transfer of title in favour of Sahel Technical was and still stalled despite Hunkuyi acting jointly and in conceit with Abdullahi Shukura purportedly procured a Deed of Assignment from NLC Kaduna State chapter acting through its chairman and secretary.

“Finally, KASUPDA issued a ‘Stop Work’ order on both sites for building without an approved building plan.

“At this juncture, the affected firm immediately informed Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi and Abdullahi Shukura of the challenges and were once again assured that all will be resolved for it to continue the developments.”

The complainant said it had been difficult to recover the N269million from Hunkuyi and Abdullahi Shukura