Written by:
Lanre Adewole – Lagos
A preliminary investigative report on the financial dealings of the administration of former Governor Babatunde Fashola is reportedly ready with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The disclosure was by the Chief Executive of anti-corruption advocacy group, Coalition Against Corruption (CACOL), Mr Debo Adeniran in an exclusive interview with the Nigerian Tribune, on Tuesday.
Adeniran claimed that the chairman of the anti-corruption agency, Mr Ibrahim Lamorde gave him the information when they both met penultimate Tuesday.
He added that Lamorde also told him that some Directors in the Lagos State civil service had been quizzed over the sustained controversies trailing spending in the state.
According to him, Lamorde also assured him that the anti-corruption commission had commenced investigation into the allegations of corruption raised against Fashola in a petition by CACOL to EFCC.
A representative of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) in Lagos also reportedly assured Adeniran that a copy of the petition submitted to ICPC against Fashola was also receiving attention.
Adeniran, who said he was on his way to the state House of Assembly also disclosed that the order of the court terminating Fashola’s probe by the leadership of former Speaker Adeyemi Ikuforiji was said to have been appealed by the lawmakers.
He stated that he was going to the state House of Assembly to confirm the appeal against the termination of the probe and if the step had not been taken as claimed, to put pressure on the lawmakers to appeal the ruling so that the probe could resume.
When asked if the advocacy group was not being partial by calling only for Fashola’s probe, he said the members who are self-funded lacked the capacity to take on two past administrations at a go.
When Nigerian Tribune confronted him with the allegation that the group was being funded by former Lagos Governor Bola Tinubu, Adeniran said the body would gladly accept such sponsorship if offered, the same way, same from Fashola or any other Nigerian would be appreciated.
He denied being funded by Tinubu, recalling that the group came out against the former governor when he obtained court injunction against the documentary against him on African Independent Television (AIT), adding that “then we challenged him to use the opportunity to clear himself of the allegations against him in the documentary instead of trying to stop its airing.”
When asked why standing against Fashola’s possible appointment when not yet convicted of corruption, Adeniran said the new era should ensure that nobody with corruption stain get anywhere near public office.
Calls made to the mobile line of Fashola’s spokesperson, Mr Hakeem Bello went unanswered.
Spokesperson of ICPC, Mr Folu Olamiti denied knowledge of any developments regarding the CACOL petition.
EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren claimed ignorance of any steps taken on the petition.
Source: Nigerian Tribune.