Fashola Probe: Assembly Asks Group to Substantiate Allegations ...Sets up panel to investigate toll plaza on Lekki-Epe highway

Written by This Day Wednesday, 28 April 2010

The Investigation of fraud against Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State continued yesterday with the House Assembly demanding that the True Face of Lagos (the group that petitioned the legislature) substantiate all allegations against him.

In another development, the legislature is to open an enquiry into the issue of toll gates being constructed on the Lekki-Epe express way.

Deputy Majority Leader and Chairman of the probe panel Dr. Ajibayo Adeyeye said during proceedings on the floor of the House that the House would ask questions on all issues presented before it.
He however, stressed that the presentation of evidence would enhance the work of the panel.

“Those you have given us, we will work on and even those you have not, we will ask questions on them. But it would do us a lot of good if you substantiate these allegations with evidence," said Ajibayo.
In her contribution, Hon [Mrs]. Funmilayo Tejuosho, representing Mushin I constituency, concurred with Ajibayo.

“I believe you do not have enough evidence to support your allegations but you have promised to bring them up. Even if you do not have it all, it might not look too good if you cannot substantiate some of these things. People might even be wondering why we are sitting here because to my own view, you have not been hitting the nail on the head," she stated.
In his contribution, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade of Ikorodu I constituency, charged the group  to shed more light on some of the issues raised.

“You talked about N1.5bn being spent for the demolition of Oshodi. If you say you know, because I do not even know they spent N20m, you have to produce evidence.
“Bringing in the wife of the governor too demands that you produce your facts, she is not a government official. We believe in the interest of truth, so we will accommodate you to provide more evidence,” he said.

Toeing the same line, Mrs Omowunmi Edet, Oshodi Isolo II, said some of the allegations were too heavy and therefore needed to be backed by facts. 
But the leader of True Face of Lagos Comrade Adesina Adebayo who led the group to the House said the allegations arose from petitions received by unidentified sources.

Adesina regretted his inability to provide evidence yesterday saying the relevant documents were removed from his home when he was attacked by unknown men. 
“Since this thing began, some people burgled my house and office and they carted away some documents but not all. As I speak with you the documents are scattered around in different locations and that is why I am unable to present the expected documents," he explained.

He however, promised to produce the ones still in his possession to the panel at another date.  He was thereafter asked to choose a date before Friday and call on the secretary to the panel for his presentation.

In another development, the House has set up a five-man panel to investigate the toll plazas being erected by the Lekki Concession Company, the firm handling the road expansion project on the Lekki-Epe express way.

The Speaker of the House Adeyemi Ikuforiji promised that the lawmakers would look into the issue yesterday while addressing residents of the area who were on a protest march.
“It is not as if we have not been discussing some of these things in groups and as individuals. But now, we will address the issue formally on the floor of the House," he assured the protesters.

The Speaker also promised to look into other issues raised by the leader of the Lekki group Mr. Sani Adewale, such as a general hospital, fire station and a government secondary school in the area.