A group of concerned citizens has petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate the Lagos State House of Assembly after revelations surfaced regarding an alleged N17 billion expenditure on a gate construction project.
The Lagos State Anti-Corruption Coalition raised alarms over the questionable use of public funds, calling the amount a clear example of financial mismanagement. According to the petition, the cost for such a project should not have exceeded N15 million.
The controversy centers around the construction of a gate at the Lagos House of Assembly, which has been alleged to have been funded with a staggering N17 billion. The petitioners claim that the project’s actual cost, according to expert evaluations, would not surpass N15 million.
“The cost of this gate construction is far beyond reason,” stated a representative of the Lagos State Anti-Corruption Coalition. “Such a project should not cost anywhere near N17 billion. This is a clear case of misallocation of public funds.”
The group also raised concerns about the handling of Constituency Intervention Funds and Constituency Project Funds, which they believe have been misused by top officials in the Lagos State House of Assembly, including Speaker Hon. Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa and Clerk Mr. Onafeko Olalekan Biliamin.
The petition claims that these funds, meant for local development projects, have been handled with a lack of transparency. It accuses Obasa and Biliamin of fraudulent activities related to their management of the funds.
There are also serious allegations against Hon. Obasa’s personal relationship with the EFCC Chairman. The petition suggests that this connection could potentially influence the integrity of any investigation into these claims.
“We have received reports that Hon. Obasa is on friendly terms with the EFCC Chairman,” the petition notes. “He even went with him to the National Assembly during his confirmation process. This raises concerns that the investigation may be compromised.”
Despite these concerns, the petitioners have expressed hope that the EFCC will carry out a fair and thorough investigation, separate from any personal connections.
“We trust that the EFCC Chairman will maintain professionalism and independence, and ensure that justice is served,” they said in the petition.
Furthermore, the group brought attention to alleged fraudulent activities connected to the Ikeja Local Government secretariat. According to the petition, Hon. Nurain Akinsanya, representing Mushin Constituency 1, was involved in the forced collection of the Ikeja project from the Local Government Chairman.
This new claim further deepens the suspicion surrounding the management of public projects by certain lawmakers. The petition demands that the EFCC investigates the Ikeja Local Government secretariat construction as well.
The petition also names two companies, Xenon Construction Ltd and Visible Construction Ltd, as suspected fronts for siphoning public funds from the gate project. The petitioners assert that these companies served as “surrogates” for illicit financial activities, funneling public money for personal gain.
In response to the petition, a spokesperson for the EFCC confirmed that they would review the claims carefully. “We take such petitions seriously, and will ensure that an investigation is conducted in line with our mandate to fight corruption,” the spokesperson said.
The Lagos State Anti-Corruption Coalition insists that their concerns reflect the need for greater transparency and accountability in the handling of public funds.
“This is about the future of Lagos State and the integrity of our democratic institutions,” the group stated. “We cannot stand by and watch while public resources are being misused for selfish purposes. We demand that the EFCC do its duty.”
The petition concludes with a call for the EFCC to take swift action and investigate both the N17 billion gate construction project and the broader mismanagement of constituency funds within the Lagos State House of Assembly.
“We are confident that the EFCC will not be swayed by political connections or any external influence,” the petition emphasized. “This is a matter of national importance. We must ensure that public funds are used for the benefit of the people, not for personal enrichment.”
