Political economist Pat Utomi has accused former Governor Ibikunle Amosun of violating the contract signed by his predecessor, Gbenga Daniel, with a Chinese investment group in 2007 out of malice.

On Saturday, Mr Amosun said he mistakenly handed over a free trade facility in Ogun to an investment group from China, introducing a disturbing dimension to the ongoing legal battle threatening the depletion of Nigeria’s assets abroad. 

Mr Amosun’s violation of the contract with the investment group Guangdong Xinguang International China Investment Ltd (or China Africa) led to a legal battle in the U.S., where a judicial panel authorised the seizure of Nigeria’s assets in America.

Another compensation judgment was also made against Nigeria in the United Kingdom in 2021, to the tune of $60 million, seeing the aggrieved investor trying to enforce the ruling in France, the U.S. and other countries where Nigeria’s assets, including President Bola Tinubu’s presidential fleet, could be targeted.

Mr Amosun, who served as governor from 2011 to 2019, admitted in a statement personally signed by him that he didn’t do even a cursory assessment of facts before asking a Chinese team to take over the Ogun-Guandong Free Trade Zone in 2012. 

His decision marked the onset of a protracted legal crisis that led to aggrieved Chinese investors’ recent targeting of Nigeria’s assets in Europe and the United States. 

Following the development, Mr Utomi, in a post on X handle on Sunday, condemned Mr Amosun for putting the country to shame with the contract violation due to his hatred for Mr Daniel’s leadership, adding that the “mistake” led to a prominent Ogun indigene dying by suicide.

“So it was Gov Amosun’s violation of contract terms signed by his predecessor, that brought the shame of seizure of jets from the Presidential fleet. I hope he is happy at his achievement’. The whole matter is Khama at work,” Mr Utomi pointed out.

Mr Utomi added, “The Chinese were not the only victims. One prominent Ogun indigene allegedly committed suicide with similar Amosun action.”

The politician and businessman, a former APC chieftain, also narrated his unsavoury ordeal with Mr Amosun.

“I too was a victim. I had leased OPIC land in Lagos in a BOT agreement under Gov Daniel. Amosun stopped all such on being sworn in. I called him. He said he did not see my name on the list,” Mr Utomi revealed.

“I went to Abeokuta and he called in Yewandw (sic) Amusan who said mine was a straight forward deal they did not include it. He asked that all be included but mine be quickly sorted. That began a rigmarole that went on for years,” he stated.

On another trip to Abeokuta, Mr Utomi said M Amosun “drove me back to Lagos at the wheels with my driver trailing along with the escorts and sirens.” 

Mr Utomi said, “He had earlier asked that I make a request for refund of what I paid even though my South African partners and I had invested 200m  in addition to the lease amount at the time.

“With just two of us in the car, he advised I make a claim for 100m and write for additional payments the day after I cash the cheque. It was surreal but if I got nothing more it would be better than being in court until we both retire. 

“I took the case to APC leader BAT and Baba Akande. No result. Took it to Dapo Abiodun when he took over. Nothing came of it. If this happened to Frieda I wondered what enemies were going through. I lost my weary SA partners who owned a successful regional chain across Southern Africa and Asia. I licked my wounds and slaved to pay off the loans.”

Mr Amosun said on Saturday that he was deceived into handing over a free trade facility in Ogun State to an investment group from China, introducing a disturbing dimension to the ongoing legal battle that threatens the depletion of Nigeria’s assets abroad. 

Mr Amosun admitted in a statement he personally signed that he didn’t even do a cursory assessment of facts before asking a Chinese team to take over the Ogun-Guandong Free Trade Zone in 2012. His decision marked the onset of a protracted legal crisis that led to aggrieved Chinese investors’ recent targeting of Nigeria’s assets in Europe and the U.S. 

The free trade zone was conceived in 2007 between Ogun State under Governor Gbenga Daniel and Guangdong Xinguang International China Africa Investment Ltd (or China Africa) to facilitate seamless trade between Nigeria and China in Igbesa, Ogun. China Africa, the major investor at 60 per cent of the stake, was developing the 10,000 hectares facility when, in 2012, a year after Mr Amosun assumed office, another firm that identified itself as Zhongfu International Investment Ltd came in with tales about how the place was being poorly administered and thereafter sought to manage it.