
Akinwunmi Ambode
Immediate past Governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode on Tuesday shunned the 16-man House of Assembly Committee set up to investigate alleged shady activities of his administration, even as some commissioners who served under his administration indicted him.
The Lagos State House of Assembly is investigating the former governor in the purchase of 820 mass transit buses at about N7 billion which was not approved by the House and other issues.
The Assembly had last week threatened to issue a warrant of arrest on the governor if he refused to appear before the committee to defend himself.
The committee is chaired by Hon. Fatai Mojeed.
Apart from Ambode, his former Commissioners for Finance, Akinyemi Ashade and Special Duties, Seye Oladejo were also absence.
However, Ashade and Oladejo wrote to the House explaining that they would not be available.
Speaker of the House, Mudashiru Obasa said the Assembly would have to send Ambode invitation publicly through newspaper publication and that if he did not still appear, the next option was to issue a warrant of arrest on him.
Submissions by Ambode’s aides who appeared before the committee indicated that they were not carried along in the awards of contract with due process allegedly breached.
Olusegun Banjo, former Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, during Ambode’s administration said the purchase of the 820 buses by the former governor was not rooted through his ministry.
According to him, he became commissioner in February 2018, and that he did follow the system he met on ground, which was responsible for shady transactions on the buses that were procured.
He explained that “The way the ministry is structured, it did not allow us to function well. The N24 billion did not come to my ministry. We didn’t have a running system. As a commissioner, I could not approve one naira. All the MDAs approached the Governor directly.”
Banjo added that lots of things were done under Ambode’s administration without the knowledge of commissioners, which showed lack of transparency.
He said there was no provision for the purchase of the 820 buses in the 2018 and 2019 budgets and that no Vote Of Charge (VOC) was issued from his office for the purchase. “I never approved any VOC for it,” he said.
On unbudgeted funds, he said, “I don’t know what happens to unbudgeted funds when it comes because the ministry of finance does not inform my ministry, we don’t have a running system”.
However, Banjo said that he would make available to the House his handing over notes where he identified the lapses in the system and ways to address the them.
Accountant-General of the State, Mrs Shukrat Umar, when asked if the budget for the purchase of the buses was approved by the State Executive Council.
“The State Treasury Office acted on Exco’s approval. The buses were in line with Exco’s approval. I would not know whether the Paris Refund Club was discussed or not,” she said.
The Imota rice mill, light-up Lagos project and procurement of LASEMA Rapid Response equipment and engagement of the consultants were all done under shady circumstances as revealed by the heads of the MDA’s who were questioned by the committee members.
Former Commissioners for Agriculture and Energy, Toyin Suarau and Wale Oluwo said many the projects, including the Oshodi interchange and others were never captured in the state budget.
Join The Conversation
8 Comments
Akinwunmi Ambode needs to appear. Why? Because as a leader, he has to live by personal example. He is been accused, and “the burden of proof of innocence” in this instance is on the accused. Akinwunmi Ambode must appear to forestall further embarrassing situations.
Well, it’s a shame to everyone and especially the many of us who are not part of this whole political gangsterism and whose “intelligence” is faulty.
Sometimes, it’s safe to say the people get the leader they deserve.
I have been in Lagos for donkey years and it is obvious Ambode tsunami-ed his predecessors with superb performance especially infrastructures and keeping the environment sane.
He was and is still the best hands down.If such a man becomes the president of this country, I will bet my life that he will do wonders in every aspect.
You all listened to Tinubu and now look at what he has brought you….Sanwo-Olu, useless at the very best. He exists more in the newspapers than he exists in our real lives in the state.
Most of these wonderful things Ambode did, he forcefully did for the entire people and he suffered himself to give you guys the best. Those assembly puppets were there to slow him down totally, to frustrate every good innovations he wanted to do. He didn’t wait for them and used his executive orders to deliver fantastic never-before-seen things to you guys and now you all come here saying “he is not above the law”, “he is a thief” bla bla bla.
It’s a real shame, most of you are just the reflection of the useless kind of leaders that rule you. I think it’s what you guys deserve.
Those criticizing the probe of Ambode should know that they do not know him more than his friends and those that make him governor,Tinubu have be probe and find nothing against him,if Ambode know any on Tinubu this best time for him to use it and either save himself or shake the table…
Bet I think Ambode mess up with all the bad roads in Lagos and other infrastructure mess up.
What is the matter with Ex Governor Ambode? Is there no one to trust in Nigeria? I think this is your time to put all those doubting Thomases wrong,those,including me, that thought you misused or stole from the Lagos state treasury. This is the time to put Tinubu to shame that you are not like him that everybody knows he’s a thief. Ambode this is your time to prove to Lagosians,Nigerians to separate cream from milk that you are not Tinubu.Ambode do not miss this opportunity to prove yourself a prudent man like Buhari. Write or go before the Assembly members how N7 Billion was spent by you.
Why didn’t they resign. The honourabe thing was to have resigned. Too bad.
Ambode we are with you all the way! Your enemies are just jealous! The speaker is a fool
Agents of Thiefnubu, pls stop disturbing Ambode. Why can’t you go after Tinubu that have been stealing Lagos fund from 1999 till president. Why can’t you represent the masses. Why are u following the thief to prosecute Ambode. Tinubu did not construct one bridge throughout his 8 years in government, but Ambode in 4 years did. Improved infrastructure, good governance, improve security, employment and so on. Your master Tinubu only steals Govt money, change govt land and other properties to his own, looted state treasury. When are people going to probe him,
Do you people have a proof reader. In this age and time the kind of grammatical errors is inexcusable.
You May Like
Latest
COVID-19 spikes in Kaduna, Lagos in no show
Ogun man Bello arrested for abducting woman, raping her , demanding ransom
UN welcomes U.S., Russia’s quest for START extension –Spokesman
Trump breaks silence as impeachment trial delayed
Refuse dumping: Abia to punish offenders
COVID-19: Okowa’s CPS distributes face masks to schools
Ex-FIFA chief Sepp Blatter still a long way to recovery
FIFA threatens players in any breakaway league with ban
Access to frozen loot: The Abachas bite the dust again
Man found dead in his car in Lagos — LASEMA
SSANU, NASU begin nationwide strike from Feb. 5
Imo North by-election: Court rejects Ararume’s plea against APC, Ibezim
Residents decry road vandalism by land grabbers in Ogun community
Anambra 2021: Onunkwo declares to run on APC platform
Create happiness for yourself – BBNaija’ s Anto
PLASU strike: Lalong sets up 7-man committee
Regina Daniels shows off her latest luxury
Africa’s COVID-19 cases surpass 3.3m – WHO
Sunday Igboho to Makinde: I dare you to arrest me
Peter Okoye marks daughter’s birthday with sweet message
Delta SEC approves reconstruction of Orhuwhorun road, others