Cross River State Government says it has retrieved only 19 vehicles out of 500 allocated to officials by the immediate past administration of Ben Ayade.
Government said out of the 19 vehicles, only two are serviceable while 17 are in a state of disrepair.
Chairman of Cross River State Taskforce on Official Vehicle recovery, Odey Ochicha, told Newsmen in Calabar on Friday, that they are poised to use force to ensure the recovery of all the vehicles since they have their details.
He explained that the task force was not enjoying cooperation from the former government officials in possession of the vehicles.
Mr. Ochicha said they were mandated to recover only operational vehicles attached to key officials of the previous government and not the ones given to commissioners and such top personnel.
He however disclosed that the commissioners were expected to gradually defray the costs of their official vehicles, and if they have not done so, such vehicles would be impounded.
“But ex-commissioners are free to retain official vehicles but must pay for them as specified otherwise, those vehicles would be impounded.
“After deadline issued by the taskforce, we will begin to impound such vehicles in whatever states they are. We will also carry out raids to recover the vehicles,” he said.
Mr. Ochicha insisted that “Nobody is above the law, else they will be arrested, and charged to court.”
He lamented that they were having difficulties as plate numbers have been illegally changed by the said officials, but they have experts and security personnel attached to them who can easily detect them.
The chairman called on members of the public to support them with information regarding such vehicles, and should not buy them if approached.
However, some residents in the State cautioned the taskforce against compromise while a few wondered whether the State was too poor not to let go of such vehicles as forms of appreciation for work done by the said officials.
