Cabinet yet to decide on Mamumanu report

By LUKE KAMA
THE findings and recommendations of an administrative inquiry into the controversial K46.6 million Manumanu land deal in Central cannot be implemented as Cabinet is yet to make a decision on the report.
This is according to Finance Secretary and chairman of the Motor Vehicle Insurance Limited (MVIL) board Dr Ken Ngangan.
The administrative inquiry into the land deal chaired by John Anthony Griffin QC and presented to Prime Minister Peter O’Neill highlighted a land deal concerning the Ministry for Public Enterprise and State Investments and Defence Ministry which was acquired through a “wide-ranging conspiracy” and needed a full investigation to uncover the conspiracy.
The inquiry report had cleared three state agencies that played a minor role of any wrongdoing. They are MVIL, Land Titles Commission, the State Solicitors and the respective heads.
It stated that MVIL, Land Titles Commission and the State Solicitors Office and the heads of those institutions were wrongfully subjected to the investigation while there were considerable amount of manipulation and dishonesty involved among the main organisations of the Lands Department, Defence Department, Kumul Consolidated Holdings and the Central Supply and Tenders Board. However, any decision to implement the findings and recommendations of the inquiry report would have to come through the National Executive Council (NEC) which was the suspending authority. To date, the NEC has yet to provide any advice, Dr Ngangan said in his capacity as chairman of MVIL.
The report stated that the valuation of land Portion 406 at the cost of K46.6million was so far in access of the true value.
It said the Defence council did not give any approval to purchase the land, nor was there any feasibility studies done on that portion of the land prior to the acquisition.