Witness narrates how Ex-HoS, allies diverted public funds to private companies in court
Lagos Assembly wades in on petitions against council chairmen
By Rasaq Adebayo
Sequel to the petitions forwarded by Hon. Akanni Ajibola Usman, Council Leader, Ikosi Isheri LCDA, and Hon. Ayoola Akeem Adeyemi, Deputy Leader, Isolo LCDA which were read during plenary on Monday, members of a Joint Committee on Local Government Administration and Community Affairs, and Public Accounts (Local) held meetings with the Legislative and Executive arms of both Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) at the Assembly complex.
In the petition against Hon. Princess Samiat Abolanle Bada, Ikosi Isheri Council chairman, it was alleged that she engaged in fraudulent and dubious misappropriation of funds by awarding exorbitant contracts to family members and failing to follow due process while disregarding the enabling laws governing the administration of local government council.
The petition also read that on the 23rd of March 2020 the chairman awarded a contract of N34,985,000 to one Wolex Tosure Ventures for the purchase of a Lexus LX 570 vehicle.
Also in the petition, it was alleged that on the 21st February 2021 Hon. Princess Bada without the knowledge or approval of the legislative arm awarded another contract to one Gbezone Nigeria Enterprise for the supply of 6 fairly used Toyota Sienna vehicles at the tune of N20,220,000.
Responding to the petition, Mr. Olujobi Sunday, the Council Manager, expressed shock over the petition to the House of Assembly.
He said: “I do not understand why a petition of such magnitude will be written to the House of Assembly, all purchases made were in accordance to the administrative guidelines 2015. In the Guideline, any contract or purchase over 35 million will need approval and where we went over that sum, we sought and got approvals.”
After deliberations and peruse of the council books on how it expended its allocations, Hon. Rotimi Olowo, Chairman House Committee on Finance, in his submission said: “I do not think the councilors are acquainted with the provisions of the Local Government Administrative Guidelines, they need to be up to date with the Guidelines.”
He directed the Council Manager to make a copy of the Guidelines available to the councillors so they will know what rights they have over the council and their legislative duties.
Lending his voice, Hon. Fatai Mojeed said: “We gave an advice when you resumed office as council boss to go and make payments to your legislators and the first thing you did was to remove your Deputy Leader which was unfair.
“Based on the information from your Council Treasurer, from January till date you have received N177.8million and have expended N156million on recurrent expenditure and N8.3million on capital expenditure. Percentage wise, you have 88 percent on recurrent while your capital only performed 12 percent. You need to adjust.”
On the petition by Hon. Ayoola Akeem Adeyemi, Deputy Leader, Isolo LCDA, against Hon. Shamsideen Abiodun Olaleye, the Council Chairman and Remy Shittu Remy, the Council Leader over passing of the council budget with less than the quota of the legislators who ought to pass the budget and abuse of Office, the House Members urged the Council Chairman to always resort to dialogue instead of allowing rancor among the legislators and thereby allowing thugs into the council to harass staff and councillors which was allegedly perpetrated by councillor Agbabiaka.
Hon. Fatai Mojeed enjoined the Chairman to go back to the council and ensure peace amongst the legislators; he also noted that further resolutions of the House on the matter will be made known to the council.
You will recall that the Acting Clerk of the House, Barr. Olalekan Onafeko, read two petitions at the floor of the House during Plenary on Monday 22nd March 2021.
Other Members at the Joint Committee meeting include Hon. Femi Saheed, Hon. Fatai Oluwa, Hon. Jude Idumogu, Hon. Olawale Age Sulaiman, Hon. Olayiwola AbdulSobur, Hon. Sanni Okanlawon, Hon. Fatai Mojeed, Hon. Nureni Akinsanya, Hon. Ibrahim Layode and Hon. Lukman Olumo.
