Allegations!

1. N5 billion on a bogus helicopter project

2. N7.7 billion on a 2 kilometer road

3. N1.5 billion to clear Oshodi

4. N1.8 billion for road and drainage inside gbagada hospital

5. N600 million for xmas decorations

7. N2 billion naira donations to anonymous organisations

8. N13 billion to plant trees and flowers

Jacob went close to his father Isaac, who touched him and said, "The voice is the voice of Jacob, but the hands are the hands of Esau." Genesis 27:22

Alpha Beta. ... Is reported to be owned by former Governor of Lagos State Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Lagos State Government , Kwara State Government , Nassarawa State Government , Akwa Ibom State Government , Abia State Government, Imo State Government ' Kano State Government , Ondo State Government,

Sokoto State Government , Abuja Environmental Protection Board , Enugu State Waste Management Authority , Enugu State Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources , Lagos Water Corporation , Zain (Formally Celtel) 

OK All well and good but my question is why is the controversial Alpha Beta deal on tax collection and the alleged 1.5 Billion a month payment not included in the allegation. Curious minds want to know. For now its sounding more like a desperate attempt to bring the Governor down or a deal gone sour between the God father and the god God son, or some selfish hangers on promoting discord to be relevant in the scheme of event or whatever! Whatever! Whatever! Anyhow we want to say it. Lagosians are waiting for answers!

And if the man of the people BRF is found to have "Sticky Fingers" Lagosians should send him to the EFCC! Pronto and not only that the 8 years of our dear Bola Tinubu should be probed now! now! May be the palaver could be for the benefit of Lagosians!

Kayode Ogundamisi

From the office of the Common Citizen.

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Bellow as advertised by the petitioners

Fashola & Mega Corruption

THE TRUE FACE OF LAGOS

(PART 1)

By Tunde George & Kasali Martins

tundegeorge20@ yahoo.com, kasalimartins1960@ yahoo.com

thetruefaceoflagos@ gmail.com

0807 266 2201 0807 266 2201, 081 249 8568, 0813 296 7667

We are tax payers residents in Lagos who are desperately desirous of accountability since taxes have recently become major revenue of Lagos State government. In the developed societies where a similar revenue regime operates, associations such as ours have acted as Government Watchdogs, which is why some of us have decided to take up the gauntlet of championing the cause of taxpayers in the state. After all if we don’t pay our taxes, government can charge and eventually jail us.

In the last ten years, tax revenue has come to constitute about 75 per cent of government revenue base, yet, the government never bothers to render account to tax payers in Lagos. In the last three years alone, a colossal sum of 1.1 trillion naira was budgeted by Fashola’s government with the government itself affirming that it has consistently recorded a minimum of 75 per cent of budget performance out of which 80 per cent came from Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). This is 30 per cent more than the entire budgets recorded by successive governments between 1992-2007-a period spanning 15 years.

Today, the total tax revenue of Lagos on a monthly basis hovers between N14 and N17 billion naira while federal allocations come to N6 billion Naira monthly. This is more than the revenue of seven states put together on a monthly basis. But how has the governor been spending the money? While we note the heavy investments in roads and environmental infrastructure mainly and commendably so, there is the need to question some of the ways the governor has been expending tax money which in our opinion reflects financial recklessness, mismanagement, gross constitutional violations and abuse of office.

Set below are some of the expenditures which the government claimed to have incurred on behalf of ‘Lagosians’ and which we feel were mere avenues to corruptly enrich some privileged individuals in and out of government and to which the state House of Assembly under the tutelage of ‘governor emeritus’ otherwise known as the Lion of Bourdillon has become an accomplice covering up a lot of misdeeds on the part of the executive. Just last week, it was alleged that each member of the House was given a sum of 20million naira through a lawyer member of the House from the Lagos west senatorial district, the constituency of the governor emeritus himself. When this was about to be leaked to the press, the Lion of Bourdillon used his powerful media contacts through two of his former aids who are media chieftains to suppress the leakage. Were this not to be the case, we would have otherwise sent these complaints to the House of Assembly. But since we no longer trust this pliant House of Assembly, we have decided to go public with the following:

1.. Last year, Fashola (BRF) gave N250 million to Rotimi Akeredolu led Exco of NBA for the NBA conference held in Lagos. At a time when Lagos teachers and doctors were on strike for improved welfare package.

2.. The BRF government within 6 months, January to June 2009 spent N420 million on hiring of private security – to guard who – despite his heavy investment in the Police Force through the State Security Trust Fund.

3.. BRF spent N1.5 billion to demolish the Bank of Industry (BOI) building, paying a company introduced by one Tunji Olowolafe in cash transfer only for him and his cronies to claim the land adjacent to it.

4.. BRF government awarded part of Western Avenue (Funsho Williams Road), about 2 kilometres road for N7.7 billion just between Abalti Barracks and Costain. And without the construction of any bridges, the project was carried out by Julius Berger. This project must certainly be investigated.

5.. Between January and June 2009, the BRF government claimed to have fuelled 225 vehicles in his office alone with N135 million. These figures amount to about N800, 000 per day, at a time that petrol was sold for N65 per litre and government always get it cheaper, but BRF claimed to have bought it at N85 per litre..

6.. Also between January and June 2009, BRF’s Chief of Staff and PAs expended N290 million in sending TEXT Messages and phone CALLS on their lines.

7.. It is also very sickening to know that the BRF government awarded the construction of a road and drains inside Gbagada General Hospital for over N1.8 billion to the same Tunji Olowolafe’s company (DEUX Projects Limited).

8.. The sum of 1.5 billion naira of un-appropriated funds, without approval was claimed to have been spent on demolition of Oshodi.

9.. The Helicopter Deal – was a big fraud. The helicopter was not built for any kind of emergency evacuation, rescue or to even combat urban fire. Over N5 billion has been spent on the two helicopters. And, the seal of Lagos State is not on it, and it is not even in Lagos but in the Niger Delta making money for some private people in government. The whole helicopter deal stinks to high heavens; it constitutes the biggest governmental fraud of all times and confirms the rot in the State. See ThisDay December 19, 2009

10. The SSA (Media) to BRF spent N183 million in 6 months on press coverage and on editors outside the approved budget but funded directly from the Governor’s Office.

11. In a State where children are sitting on the floor in classrooms, where unemployment is rampant and poverty pervasive. BRF paid a lady wife of a controversial pastor over N600 million in 2 years for Xmas Decorations for about six streets in Lagos.

12. In Six months between January and June 2009, BRF spent on several faceless organisations, subventions, grants and donations and they quickly pocketed N2 billion.

THE RIPPING OFF OF LAGOS – ESSENTIAL DETAILS

1. The BRF government recklessly increased and paid over 60% increase on the LASU – IBA road awarded by the Bola Tinubu government for N6.2 billion but was jerked up to N10 billion less than 2 weeks that BRF came on board.

2. Also, the Tinubu administration awarded the construction of City Hall for N2.3 billion. BRF only changed the floor tiles to marble tiles and increased the contract sum to N5.2 billion. This project was increased by 126%.

3. Publishing of INDICATOR Magazine, is falsely presented to the public as a private magazine but is actually co-ordinated by Tunji Olowolafe and Hakeem Bello, SSA (Media) to BRF with government money.

4. BRF recently gave a media-related Permanent Secretary, and some others the sum of N100 million to do a soap opera on himself. They are presently in London recording the film.

5. The BRF government has failed woefully in the area of Public Private Partnership (PPP) in three years. Yet, BRF is paying the PPP boss in Lagos State N2 million per month in violation of the Constitution, when even commissioners recognised by the Constitution are receiving N300,000 per month. The PPP guy is the highest paid government official presiding over a non-performing and failed parastatal..

6. The Beautification Programme of Fashola administration is reeking with corruption. In a State where there is no water, where over 90 per cent of the road in Lagos is in a deplorable state of disrepair, he is spending over N13 billion on planting grass and flowers. Most of the money was spent to import Palm trees from Niger Republic, a sahel region when Lagos is in the rain forest which explains why most of them have dried up..

7. Also, it is important to note that the renovation of classrooms of usually 12 blocks plus one which was done for N26 million by the Tinubu administration up till 2007 was increased to N53 million with the collaboration of the housing commissioner who is supervising projects in the education ministry.

8. CCTV project was awarded to BRF’s relation who claimed to be acting for CISCO. The contract was awarded for $62 million dollars, while the rejected quote for the contract was $30 million. It is important to note that this is only a pilot scheme.

9. BRF’s wife travels abroad once bi-monthly and takes N30 million per trip from the State coffers, apart from her monthly running cost.

10 The mother of all rip off is the award to DEUX PROJECT LIMITED, a company owned by the powerful Tunji Olowolafe 11 out of 19 contracts in the Lagos State Ministry of health between January and August 2009. Out of N5.6 billion naira contract in the Ministry of Health, Olowolafe alone collected N5.1 billion worth and was paid 70% upfront in cash.

OTHER QUESTIONS

1. Why did BRF divert N1.85 billion in the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation to a project that was not originally provided for in the budget and promptly awarded to Olowolafe?

2. Why is Lawyer BRF’s administration illegally deducting funds from the statutory allocation of the Local Governments in Lagos State?

3. Why was the Mayegun Scheme which was sold to Olowolafe and other friends and cronies against public interest without any independent valuation by relevant agency of government? Why is the size of the scheme shielded in secrecy? Why was N5.2 billion for which the land sold untraceable? Where is the over N2 billion loan borrowed to sand-fill the place? What is the fate of the Tourism and Art-craft sellers chased away from the place?

4. Pinnacle – why did the governor and his cronies engage in questionable transfer of 400 hectares of land to Pinnacle, South Africa, when it is known that the company is almost bankrupt and the ABSA Bank now owns over 60% of the Company. What nature of PPP is this? The world is watching!

5. Why was the illegal sand-filling of about 1 km in the Badagry – Marina awarded for N1.5 billion out of which N700 million has been paid and yet the contractors and the Tourism Ministry have completely destroyed all the historical relics and artefacts in the area? It has also created an environmental disaster for West Africa because of greed. And it appears the Commissioner has been settled.

FASHOLA AND CONSTITUTIONAL VIOLATIONS

1. Flagrant and deliberate disregard for the Appropriation law passed by the Lagos State House of Assembly, in violation of Section 120 of the 1999 Constitution.

2. Criminal diversion of funds without due approval of the Lagos State House of Assembly, in further violation of Section 120 (3) of the 1999 Constitution.

3. Indiscriminate award of contracts without due process, without following the laid down financial regulation as well as the public procurement guidelines. The payment of such contracts is in violation of Part (E) Section 120(4) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

4. Most Ministries, Departments, Parastatals sometimes do not know when contracts are awarded in their names and for what purpose, they only find out later. And they don’t know when payments to contractors are made by the State Treasury Office. This is in further violation of Section 121(2) of the 1999 Constitution.

5. Illegal and unwarranted deductions from the statutory Allocation of the local governments. This is in direct contravention of Public Revenue Provision of the 1999 Constitution and in violation of Section 162 sub-section 6, 7 and 8.

6. Opening of illegal and unconstitutional Dedicated Accounts which is contrary to the provision of the 1999 Constitution and which Revenue Monitoring Agency is unaware of. This act is in direct violation of Section 120(1) of the 1999 Constitution.

7. Office of the Chief of Staff which is unknown to the Constitution has more staff than any other Ministry in Lagos State.. This violation is very grave as it is in direct breach of the Governor’s Oath of Office in the 7th Schedule of the 1999 Constitution Section 13 and a gross violation of Sections 192, 193 and 208(2d) of the 1999 Constitution.

8. Indiscriminate borrowing by the Ministry of Finance without legislative approval, which the Finance Commissioner calls Bridging Loans, is a grave assault on Fiscal Federalism, a coup against Financial Regulations and a shameful and criminal violation of Section 120(1), (2), (3) and (4) of the 1999 Constitution.

9. Concentration of over 70% of Lagos State Government contracts in the hands of one Tunji Olowolafe. This is the clearest indication of the betrayal of trust by Governor Fashola, it is against the Oath of Office he swore to, it is a violation of Sections 14(4), 15(5) and 17(2a) of the 1999 Constitution on which social objective of a just, free and equitable social order is founded.

10. Arbitrary use of Special Expenditure Vote for activities not originally provided for under the Appropriation Law. This is a further betrayal of Fiscal Federalism and a violation of provisions of Section 120(3) and (4), and Section 123(1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution.

11. Payment of 70% up-front to persons and cronies for contracts not yet executed. Similarly, this is a contravention of Section 120(4) of the 1999 Constitution.

12. Giving arbitrary donations to selective professional associations and faceless organisations for acting as sycophants without appropriate authorisation by relevant constitutional bodies. This is a clear violation of sections 120(4) and 123 of the 1999 Constitution

13. The fraudulent purported acquisition of 2 Bell 412 EP Series Helicopters from a Canadian firm constitute a flagrant violation of Section 123(1) and (2) and Section 120(4) of the 1999 Constitution.

14. Furthermore, the award of contract of courts and other Judicial Infrastructure as well as procurement for the Judiciary in Lagos State by the Attorney-General, Tunji Olowolafe and Governor Fashola is in gross violation of Section 121(3) of the 1999 Constitution.  

In all these aberrations, the Lagos State House of Assembly has kept mute, and the House has become inept, achaic, drab, docile and inefficient. All the noise by Mr. Speaker about accountability and probity be only to enable house members line their pockets and feed fat on the sweat and toil of the people of the State?

Is it also true that they have been given their own share of the loot, they are maintaining undignified silence over the report of the ad hoc Committee set up to look into the books and activities of the Lagos State Government pursuant to Section 103 of the 1999 Constitution with powers expressly provided in sections 1a, b(i) and (ii), as well as Section 129 1 a b c and d.

We are aware that the report has been submitted since November 2009, so why is the Lagos State House of Assembly still sitting on the report? This is just a tip of the ice berg of financial recklessness by the Lagos executive led the seemingly performing governor Fashola! More soon.

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CHAMPIONS FOR NIGERIA - IN DEFENCE AND SUPPORT OF GOV TUNDE FASHOLA   (PRESS STATEMENT)

Champions for Nigeria (CFN), a registered global organisation, based in the United Kingdom wishes to pronounce our unalloyed solidarity and support for the government of Governor Babatunde Fashola, Executive Governor of Lagos State. In the face of orchestrated campaign of calumny against the best civil administration and governance in the political stratosphere of Nigeria in recent times, with visible evidence of progressive leadership and executive responsibility, socio-economic growth and macro and micro- stabilisation, we reject all the phantom lies of recklessness peddled against Gov Fashola.
 
It is in no doubt the handiwork of forces of evil and backwardness, who are confused about the achievement that has been recorded by the BRF administration in a space of 2 years to the wide acclaim and admiration of Nigerians home and abroad and also the international community. The effort of these detractors is openly aimed at slowing the momentum of progress in the state and to cause unwarranted distraction to the development agenda of the Civil and modern administration of Lagos state under the leadership of Gov. Babatunde Fashola. 
 
Governor Fashola has demonstrated times and again his love for the people of Lagos state and he has communicated his policies and programme in a very transparent manner at different fora with Lagosians and people of Nigeria in the Diaspora. He has secured an understanding of the people to deliver on the dividends of democracy to Nigerians in the most populous city in Nigeria. With the results on the ground, he has demonstrated that governance is not business as usual to the satisfaction of Lagosians and Nigerians far and wide and for the first time in many years Nigerian have a state to be proud of because of this visionary and selfless leadership of Gov Fashola. He retains our confidence in the use and appropriation of taxpayers funds as deemed fit within the context of his development agenda and Lagosians are not fools not to notice the transformational influence of his administration at every corner of the state. Governor Fashola administration has become a benchmark for progress and state administration and a blue print for modern day style of governance, proactive, responsive, responsible, moderate, creative, fair and approachable. 
 
Champions for Nigeria CFN, as an organisation that promote excellence, leadership, dedication, commitment and accountability therefore reject all the peddled and sponsored stories of misappropriation by faceless people against the administration of Governor Fashola. We emphasised that what we see on the ground is a tip of the iceberg in terms of physical, moral and social development of Lagos state and certainly it drowns every effort by mischievous group of people to tarnish the well earned image of our dear governor. We will like to remind those in the business of carrying rumours and vendetta against the governor, that our support, indeed Nigerians support for BRF is not personal but it is symbolically spiritual given that the administration of Gov Fashola entered a contract of good leadership and purposeful service with Lagosians and we have no reason regardless of what is peddled or written, to think that he has let us down. 
 
We would therefore strongly advised the detractors of this administration to find another volition elsewhere as Nigerians home and abroad are pleased with the pace of progress in Lagos under this administration and our support and recognition of his achievement is profound.
 
Champions for Nigeria (CFN) ask the questions...WHO IS AFRAID OF FASHOLA? WHO ARE THE ENEMIES OF PROGRESS IN LAGOS STATE? WHO ARE THEIR SPONSORS? Nigerians are in support of His Excellency, Gov Babatunde Raji Fashola and his developmental, visionary and productive leadership of the state.
 
Long Live Nigeria, Long Live Lagos State and Long Live Champions for Nigeria.
 
Dr Olayiwola Ajileye          Media & Publicity Coordinator             

Mr Bernard Imarhiagbe     UK Coordinator

Mr Moses Dada                 Gen Secretary

Mr Akintokunbo Adejumo   Global Coordinator
 

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execute any project or spend any money outside what was budgeted for and whether or not those who defended the budgets were involved in the execution of the budgets as well as what happened to all unspent budgets. The House of Assembly should also live up to its responsibility by carrying out the investigation it is reported to have begun on all issues involved without fear or favour. We would want the Assembly to invite all persons and institutions mentioned in the publication for questioning on what roles they play or did not play in the area they are alleged to have soiled their hands. Everybody, no matter how high, mighty, powerful, influential or crafty must be given the opportunity to defend himself or herself openly and if found culpable, be brought to justice in an unbiased manner.

Nonetheless, in view of the legal and constitutional implication of the allegations, and for the fact that at least two arms of the Government of Lagos State are involved, we shall request that the Economic and Financial Crimes (EFCC) which is saddled with the responsibility of investigating graft in all its shades and colours to step in and equally investigate the serious issues raised in the allegation. This is with a view to ensuring transparency in the process and minimizing any possibility of treating the issues as a “family affair” in the long run. Noteworthy of mention is the “hand of Esau” mentioned in the allegation that could have bribed the House and the media to “kill” the sleaze. Could the former governor of the state Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu truly be the “Esau”? The public surely is interested in knowing.

It is our belief that the synergy between the House and EFCC will go along way in either vindicating the amiable Governor Babatunde Fashola and his government or nailing a bunch of crooks in high places who will desire to subject the poor people of Lagos State to more to poverty and squalour.                                                        

Debo Adeniran

Executive Chairman, CACOL

08037194969

dadnig@yahoo.com

www.deboadeniran.blogspot.com

Monday, 1^st February, 2010

Being the text of Press Conference addressed by the Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL) at its Secretariat, Ijaye-Ojokoro, Lagos on Monday, 1^st of February, 2010 by 10.00am