Political economist Pat Utomi has accused former Governor Ibikunle Amosun of acting out of malice by violating a contract signed by his predecessor, Gbenga Daniel, with a Chinese investment group in 2007.
On Saturday, Mr. Amosun acknowledged that he mistakenly handed over a free trade facility in Ogun State to a Chinese investment group, adding a new and troubling aspect to the ongoing legal disputes that threaten Nigeria’s overseas assets.
Mr. Amosun’s breach of the agreement with Guangdong Xinguang International China Investment Ltd (or China Africa) led to a legal battle in the U.S., where a judicial panel approved the seizure of Nigerian assets. Another compensation ruling against Nigeria was issued in the United Kingdom in 2021, amounting to $60 million. The aggrieved investors have since been trying to enforce the judgment in France, the U.S., and other countries, potentially putting Nigeria’s assets, including President Bola Tinubu’s presidential fleet, at risk.
Mr. Amosun, who served as governor from 2011 to 2019, admitted in a personally signed statement that he failed to properly assess the facts before allowing a Chinese team to take over the Ogun-Guandong Free Trade Zone in 2012. This decision triggered a prolonged legal crisis, leading to recent attempts by Chinese investors to seize Nigeria’s assets in Europe and the United States.
In response to these developments, Mr. Utomi took to X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday to criticize Mr. Amosun for bringing shame upon Nigeria through the contract violation, attributing it to his dislike of Mr. Daniel’s leadership. Mr. Utomi also mentioned that this “mistake” contributed to the suicide of a prominent Ogun State indigene.
“So it was Governor Amosun’s breach of contract terms signed by his predecessor that led to the disgrace of having jets from the Presidential fleet seized. I hope he is satisfied with his achievement. The whole situation is a case of karma,” Mr. Utomi remarked.
He further noted, “The Chinese were not the only victims. A prominent Ogun indigene reportedly committed suicide due to a similar action by Amosun.”
Mr. Utomi, a politician and businessman who was formerly a member of the APC, also shared his own negative experience with Mr. Amosun.
“I was also a victim. I had leased OPIC land in Lagos under a BOT agreement during Governor Daniel’s tenure. Amos
