The Managing Director of the Edo State Geographic Information Service (EDOGIS), Mr Tony Ikpasaja, has been sacked by Governor Monday Okpebholo, becoming the first high-profile casualty of a controversial land revocation saga involving Presco Plc.
The crisis erupted when a government-style announcement, published as a paid advert in a national newspaper and widely circulated on social media, declared the revocation of vast land holdings belonging to Presco Limited, a multinational palm oil giant listed on the Nigerian Exchange and headquartered in Benin City.
Sources within government circles alleged that the revocation was personally driven by Governor Okpebholo, who reportedly believed that his predecessor, Godwin Obaseki, was the largest individual shareholder in Presco – a claim that fuelled the decision to strip the company of its titles.
Within hours, the Edo State Government made a dramatic U-turn. A statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Joseph Eboigbe, dismissed the revocation notice as “fake news” and completely unauthorised.
But before the public could fully digest the denial, another official statement – again signed by the same Secretary to the State Government – emerged, announcing the immediate removal of EDOGIS Managing Director, Tony Ikpasaja.
The termination letter read in part:
“The state governor has approved the removal of the managing director, Edogis Tony Ikpasaja, stressing that the removal was sequel to the current restructuring and directed that he should hand over to the next in order.”
Reacting to the development, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Fred Itua, defended the action, stating that the government was “putting everything in proper perspective” and working to restore order in land administration in the state.
Neither Presco Plc nor the sacked EDOGIS boss has issued any official statement as of the time of this report.
