Abuja — Former President Olusegun Obasanjo ignored due process in the sale of Federal Government houses during his administration, Senate Committee on Housing declared yesterday.

The panel which is investigating the sale of the houses, said the Obasanjo administration ignored due process to enable some top government officials at the time to purchase choice houses in Lagos and Abuja.

When he appeared before the committee, Secretary to Government of the Federation, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed said government twice amended the rules to enable 'notable Nigerians' purchase the houses.

Alhaji Ahmed said President Obasanjo as chairman of the Federal Executive Council had discretionary powers provided by the Constitution to determine the process of sales of the houses.

After it realised that government officials were not forthcoming with names of beneficiaries, the committee suspended hearing to enable it unearth the names of the 'notable Nigerians' mentioned by the SGF. At it resumed hearing yesterday; Chairman of the Senate panel, Senator Ikechukwu Obiora (PDP, Anambra) named the incarcerated PDP chieftain, Bode George and former Minister of Works Adeseye Ogunlewe as some of the top beneficiaries of the illegal sales.

Other names on the list of the beneficiaries of the deals include, former Foreign Affairs Minister Joy Ogwu, Admiral Ibrahim Ogohi (rtd), General Andrew Owoye Azazi (rtd), Gbemisola Adebo, and Olatoyin Olakunrin.

The panel also found that the former president denied General Chris Abutu Garuba the opportunity to buy his house and sold it to the Ikoyi Baptist Church which he attends. General Garuba the panel found had paid the ten percent of the cost of the houses and bided N175 million. He was denied the opportunity to buy as sitting tenant, and the house was sold to the Baptist Church at N196 million.

The panel has summoned all beneficiaries in the house sales deals to appear before it.

It has also ordered the Ikoyi Baptist Church to present all documents relating to sale of house No. 7, Bell Avenue, Ikoyi Lagos.