The State Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party in Lagos State Adedeji Doherty broke his silence on the monumental fraud, mismanagement and misappropriation of public funds allegedly going on in the Lagos House of Assembly, especially the alleged unexplained number of bank accounts linked to the Speaker Hon. Obasa and reckless award of contracts without due process.
The State Chairman called on the acting chairman of the Economic Financial Crimes Commission EFCC Ibrahim Magu to investigate these strong, worrisome allegations immediately while asking that The Speaker steps aside, to preserve the integrity of the house of assembly.
Doherty said: “These allegations of awards of contracts without due process, fraud, over invoicing, misappropriation of state funds, subversion of allocated funds, personal enrichment, diversion of State finances etc are very serious allegations against the number three man in the state and if proven true should lead to prosecution.
Doherty also called on the EFCC boss to look into the finances of the entire state since 1998/99 till date and that it will show clearly, that the APC led government in Lagos State have not and have never been transparent about the financial affairs of the state.
He advised the EFCC boss to conduct a forensic investigation into the finances of the state for the past 20 years especially the various questionable banking transactions including unethical acquisitions of loans and bonds that have occurred during this said period.
The Chairman also said Magu must not leave the banks and CEOs of the transacting banks that have conspired with the civil servants in the past to commit such financial misappropriation.
“Lagos State is drowning in monumental Debt today which would be close to 3 Trillion Naira.
Doherty also applauded the whistleblowers, and thanked them for their courage to bring these allegations into the public domain as many others have been swept underneath the carpet over the years. He recalled other incidents in the past such as the Sunburn Yacht scandal during the Tinubu era, the N78m website scandal during Fashola’s tenure and the allegations of financial misappropriation of N9.9bn during Ambode’s tenure.
He advised Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to step up his game regarding corruption within his cabinet especially as regards to the COVID 19 donations, expenses and financial operations which the PDP in Lagos are keeping records of and watching with great interest.
“We are getting a lot of complaints from the public and government employees regarding different questionable transactions going on the various Ministries and most importantly within the Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas in Lagos State.” Doherty said.
Doherty said that it is vital to note that the IGR of the state is likely going to dwindle due to the Economic recession tied to the COVID 19 pandemic and as such there will be no room for corruption or corrupt tendencies in government since all expenditures especially loan repayments schedules would remain the same except it is renegotiated.
Doherty finally requested that the Lagos State Governor should not forget as he approaches his first year in office, that he promised the good people of Lagos that he would be transparent in all his dealings while leading the state.
