EFCC Goes after Fashola, Tinubu over N402 Billion Lagos funds

There is fire on the mounting and everybody is on the run. And if the news from Lagos is anything to go by, Lagos state Governor Babatunde Fashola and his predecessor Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu may be on the run of EFCC.

Ogbuefi blogs captured below series of atrocities and massive looting of government funds and misappropriation of Lagos State resources committed by the Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, and his god-father, the Jagabandit of Bourdillion Close, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Newspapers forgot to publish them:

Fashola claims he spent the sum of N1.5Billion of un-appropriated funds, without approval in demolishing and planting grass at Oshodi. No newspaper reported this.

Fashola’s god-father, Bola Tinubu, converted all the plots of land where Lagos Polytechnic was located at Ikosi, near the old toll gate. He chased away the Polytechnic in 2006 and went ahead to allocate the choice plots to himself. The headquarters of Television Continental (TVC) and Radio Continental, which is owned by him, is currently located there. He deprived the youths of Lagos of decent education because of his primitive desire to acquire every real estate that he can lay his hands on in Lagos.

As to be expected,Television Continental (TVC) and Radio Continental did not report this.

Lagos State generates an Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of an average of N25Billion to N30Billion Monthly (At least, that is what they declare. It could be more). The company that is contracted to collect IGR is Alpha Beta Consultants (ABC). The company is owned by Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The company collects 10% commission of taxes collected in Lagos. This amounts to between N2.5Billion to N3Billion monthly. On what basis is this 10% commission when the same work can be done by the Lagos State Board of Internal Revenue?

No newspaper has ever written a report or editorial about this.

Between January and June 2009, Fashola's Chief of Staff and PAs spent N290 million in sending TEXT Messages and making phone CALLS on their lines.

Of course, no newspaper reported this.

Now, permit me to introduce Dr. Tunji Olowolafe. He is the owner of DEUX PROJECT LIMITED. He is Bola Tinubu and Babatunde Fashola’s crony. He is also their biggest proxy. Most contracts that Fashola awards to himself are done using DEUX PROJECT LIMITED. For instance, between January and August 2009, 11 out of 19 contracts in the Lagos State Ministry of health were awarded to this company. Out of N5.6Billion contract in the Ministry of Health, Olowolafe alone collected N5.1Billion worth and was paid 70 percent upfront in cash.

No newspaper or other news media reported this.

For a State that earns averagely N360Billion, annually, from taxes, isn’t it befuddling that its state-own University, LASU, cannot boast of a hostel facility? Yet, Fashola had the temerity to increase school fees from N25k to N250K.

No newspaper has ever written a report or editorial about this.

Remember the Bank of Industry (BOI) building at Lagos Island that partially collapsed in March, 2006?

On the 21st of September, 2008 the building was eventually demolished. Now guess how much Fashola spent to demolish it? A whooping N1.5Billion! Please, be reminded that this amount is just to demolish a building. Not to build one. Anyway, that isn’t the end of the story. The government of Lagos, a.k.a Fashola administration, later acquired the land (Layeni’s compound) adjacent to the demolished building in the “public interest”. He later resold it to his proxy Tunji Olowolafe.

No newspaper has ever reported this.

During the Bola Tinubu administration, he awarded the construction of City Hall for N2.3Billion. When Fashola later came on board, he increased the contract sum to N5.2Billion. This project was increased by 126%. The only input he eventually made to City Hall was to change the floor tiles to marble tiles.

The news media conveniently missed this news item.

The SSA (Media) to Fashola spends approximately N200million quarterly on press coverage and on news media editors. In other words, it is from this money that news media editors are paid to gag them from reporting anything unsavoury about Fashola or his administration. Note that this fund is outside the approved budget, but funded directly from the Governor's Office. Now, you know why no news media outlets broadcast or publish anything negative about Fashola and his administration. Also, propaganda against their political adversaries is fuelled by this largesse to the media authorities.

Of course, this is not the sort of news that Sahara Reporters report about.

The Critical Care unit at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) in Ikeja, built and equipped with state funds, is now owned personally by Fashola’s god-father, BolaTinubu. He put one Dr. Sikiru Tinubu, (a supposed cousin of his) to run the outfit. It is run as a private unit and the proceeds are pocketed by the duo. The unit charges its users exorbitantly and most Lagosians can hardly afford to pay its high charges. Most of the revenue is derived from fees paid by the State Government for patients referred there by its General Hospitals.

Oddly, this news item evaded all news media.

Fashola administration once spent N1Billion Naira on “bangers” and fireworks during the New Year Crossover Night. This is a state that its university - Lagos State University (LASU) - cannot boast of a hostel facility.

No newspaper reported this.

Between January and June 2009, now guess how much Fashola claimed to have used to fuel the fleet of vehicles attached to his office alone?

Please, brace up for the figure.

N135 million!

This amounts to about N800, 000 per day. Interestingly, this was at a time that petrol was sold for N65 per litre, and we all know that government always gets it cheaper. But Fashola claimed to have bought it at N85 per litre.

This particular revelation surfaced at a time when members of the Lagos State House of Assembly were looking for a reason to impeach him in 2010. These “Honourables”, led by the Speaker of the house - Adeyemi Ikuforiji, are loyal to Bola Tinubu. They were angry with Fashola for daring to suggest a downward review of the 10% that their god-father, Tinubu, earns from all collected taxes in Lagos. Thus, this revelation came to light. However, when the rift between Tinubu and his prodigal god-son, Fashola, was settled, the case was magically swept under the rug.

Of course, this news never made the press.

During the Bola Tinubu administration, the LASU IBA road was awarded for N6.2Billion. In less than two weeks when Fashola came on board, the amount was jerked up to N10 Billion. The reason for this reckless increase was never stated.

No newspaper reported this.

Fashola awarded the contract for the reconstruction of part of Western Avenue (Funsho Williams Road). The road is a two kilometers road (between Abalti Barracks and Costain). The project was carried out by Julius Berger. This 2 KM road costs a staggering N7.7 Billion. Mind you, the contract didn’t include the construction of any bridge.

No newspaper reported this.

The prime land of 157 hectares with 2.5km of Atlantic beachfront valued at about N10billion and stolen by Tinubu from the communities of Siriwon, Igbekodo, Apakin, etc in Ibeju-Lekki Local Government and given to Mr. Ibukun Fakeye (his crony) to build a golf course and luxury villa with little or no compensation to the villagers. In addition, Tinubu paid $20million (N4billion) out of public treasury to Ibukun Fakeye to commence the project in late 2006. Fashola has since released additional funding for this project, which is not owned by the state government.

TVC and Radio Continental will never report this.

Fashola's wife travels abroad at least once in two months. Whenever she travels, she takes N30million per trip from the State coffers, apart from her monthly running cost.

No newspaper would report this.

What is the status of the Bus Assembly Company-a joint venture between the Lagos State Government and Marcopolo Bus Company of Brazil of which about N2Billion was paid to a foreign consultant and a Nigerian friend of Bola Tinubu in 2006? The objective of the project was to build a bus maintenance facility at the old LMTS yard at Cappa, Oshodi of which nothing has been done till date? Gov Fashola should update the public on this.

No newspaper has reported this.

Fashola awarded a contract to construct a road and drainage inside Gbagada General Hospital. Of course, the contract was awarded to his usual proxy, Dr. Tunji Olowolafe's company (DEUX Projects Limited). Now, guess the contract amount? Over N1.8 billion!

No newspaper editorial was ever written about this.

The Fashola administration boasts of restoring safety and security to Lagos State. However, what is their justification for the Fashola administration, within 6 months (January to June 2009) spending N420million on hiring private security to guard him despite his heavy investment in the Police Force through the State Security Trust Fund.

No newspaper would report this.

Over 70% of Lagos State Government contracts are concentrated in the hands of his proxy - Dr. Tunji Olowolafe. However, this is the clearest indication of the betrayal of trust by Governor Fashola. This 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.

No newspaper would report this.

Obafemi Awolowo Way, Ikeja, is a road of about 1KM. The contract for the supply of dissel for the generators that power the street lights was awarded to a Bale (community ruler). The Bale is a very close ally of Fashola and Bola Tinubu. The Bale is paid N16m monthly.

No newspaper reported this.

In a State where pipe-borne water is almost non-existent, Fashola spent over N13Billion on planting grass and flowers in just a few places that constitute less than 1% of Lagos land mass. According to them, most of the money was spent in importing palm trees from Niger Republic, a sahel region belt, when Lagos is in the rain forest. This explains why most of the trees have dried up.

The news media conveniently didn’t get a hint of this news item.

The INDICATOR magazine, a magazine that focuses on the activities of the Lagos State government, is falsely passed off to the public as a private magazine. It is not. It is actually co-ordinated and published by Tunji Olowolafe and Hakeem Bello, SSA (Media) to BRF with government money.

Of course, no newspaper would report this.

Fashola’s god-father, Bola Tinubu, while he was the governor, allocated to himself the former Strabag yard that is located beside the Lagos State Secretariat at Alausa, Ikeja. The land has now been developed to bear one of his investments – The Ikeja Shopping Mall (Ikeja Shoprite).

No newspaper would report this.

In six months (between January and June 2009) Fashola spent money on several faceless organizations in the form of subventions, grants and donations, A total of N2 billion was given out in the process.

No newspaper would report this.

The 14-hectare Parkview Ikoyi Estate foreshore land reclaimed by Lagos State Government is now owned by Bola Tinubu.

No newspaper has reported this.

The contract for the installation of CCTVs on the street of Lagos was awarded to one of Fashola’s relatives. The relative claimed to be acting for CISCO. The contract was awarded for $62 million dollars, while the rejected quotation for the contract was $30 million. It is important to note that this was only a pilot scheme.

No newspaper reported this.

Prince Dipo Eludoyin is a personal friend and proxy for ex-Gov Tinubu and Gov. Fashola. They had arrangements with him (Eludoyin) for some prime lands in Lagos to be sold to him. These lands were eventually sold to him at ridiculously low prices. Some of the lands include: : The 3.8-hectare of land of Lagos State Fisheries office in VI (beside the Institute of Oceanography), the fishery landing jetty at Badore (where the Ilubirin fishermen were to be relocated); the entire Ogudu foreshore scheme initially earmarked for a low-cost housing scheme; the Ilubinrin housing estate (which used to house Lagos state civil servants and judges up till 2007); the former Julius Berger yard at Oko Orisan, Epe.

No newspaper would report this.

The entire maintenance contract and management of hospital equipment at the LASUTH was solely concessioned to Olowolafe’s company by the Tinubu administration at an annual payment of N850m paid upfront. The Fashola’s government retains this arrangement

No newspaper would report this.

Billions of naira have been paid not once, not twice for the development of Oyingbo market for which no appreciable level of work has been done? Oyingbo market is still in the same state that it has always been. The evidence is there for the public to see.

No newspaper would report this.

Fashola lambasts the federal government, consistently, for its failure to provide steady power supply.

No newspaper editorial has ever been written to ask him why he has failed, in 8 years, to provide Lagosians with pipe-borne water.

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

No newspaper reported this.

A 250-hectare of land valued at about N35billion and strategically located adjacent to the Ajah-Badore junction on Lekki-Epe road. It was original earmarked to build a general hospital to serve the people of Eti-Osa. However, it was stolen by Tinubu and handed over to Trojan Estate Ltd – a company owned by Deji and Wale Tinubu. Today, that property has been developed to become what is today known as the Royal Garden Housing Estate. All these at the expense of the taxpayers of Lagos.

No news media ever reported this.

Bola Tinubu appropriated to himself a choice public property situated along the Lekki-Epe expressway. It was on this land that he built and part-owns the multi-billion Naira “Oriental Hotels” at the "Admiralty Circle" Maroko.

Media houses conveniently turned a blind eye to this news item.

In 2005-2006, the Cook County Hospital in Chicago, Illinois, USA donated a set of medical equipment to the Lagos State government free-of-charge. This was when Bola Tinubu was still the governor of Lagos State. Yet, records showed that a company belonging to Tunji Olowolafe was paid for it by way of Letters of Credit for the same equipment. The payment was made during Fashola’s administration.

No newspaper editorial was written about this.

Mrs. Animashahun heads the Lagos State Building Control Agency. She is a relative of the governor. Also, one Dr. Mrs. Adesina who calls the shots as the Special Adviser to the Governor is equally a relative of the Governor. One Ms. Azeez, a sister to the closest friend of the Governor, Demola Azeez, heads the EKO Project and directly reports to him. There is hardly any Agency in the State today that the Fashola family or Animashaun Family does not prominently feature. This is aside from the in-laws and many relatives of the Governor who returned from the United Kingdom to populate most Lagos State agencies.

No newspaper would report this.

In 2009, Fashola claimed to have bought two helicopters for an unbelievable N5Billion. It was purchased without a transparent bidding process. They also claimed that the helicopter was built for emergency evacuation, rescue or to even combat urban fire. This was a blatant lie. The helicopters were of generic design. Before public attention was brought to this grand heist by the Fashola administration, the seal of Lagos State was not on it. It wasn’t even in Lagos, but in the Niger-Delta making money for some private people in government. 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.

Only ThisDay Newspaper reported this (See ThisDay December 19, 2009). However, the consequence of daring to report this, is the reason why the beautiful and imposing “ThisDay Dome”, an exquisite event place, situated along the Lekki Epe Expressway, Lekki, is no more there. Emperor Fashola literarily harassed them out of the state.

The Mayegun Scheme was sold to Olowolafe and other friends and cronies of Fashola 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 was 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?

No newspaper reported this.

Former Gov Tinubu gave away Hectares of land belonging to several communities-Sirinwon, Igbekodo, Apakin etc in Ibeju Lekki local government to his crony, one Ibukun Fakeye to develop a golf course and housing estate with no regard for the right of the community? In addition, why did the Lagos State Government pay a whopping sum of N5billion for the take-off of the project which today is being singularly handled by Ibukun Fakeye as a private project at the exclusion of any Lagos State Government official? Was this project ever approved by the Lagos State House of Assembly or the amount appropriated in the 2006 or 2007 budgets?

No newspaper would report this.

Ms. Yinka Fashola is the immediate elder sister of the Gov. Fashola. She is the one superintending over the on-going Lagos State Residents Registration exercise. Nothing less than 7 Billion Naira has been expended on the exercise thus far. Unfortunately, more than a year since the commencement of the programme, they have only succeeded in registering 164,000 people. Mathematically, it translates to N42,682, 926.82 to register one person. Pure waste of tax payers funds.

No newspaper would report this.

The entire Ogudu Foreshore scheme initially earmarked for low cost housing scheme sold to a company belonging to Prince Dipo Eludoyin – a crony of Bola Tinubu? How much was this piece of real estate sold? And where did the money end up in?

No newspaper would report this.

Bola Tinubu’s wife, Remi Tinubu, built the massive New Era Foundation youth camp at the junction of Eleko, off the Lekki-Epe express road, with Lagos State funds. Today, the project is now her personal property.

No newspaper would report this.

Fashola during his electioneering campaign of 2011, in no uncertain terms, promised that he would build the 4th Mainland Bridge. Today, there are no signs of the project kicking off.

No newspaper editorial reminded him of this campaign promise.

The 1,000 hectares of land valued at about N75billion located at Lakowe near Abijo at Ibeju-Lekki Local Government and given to Lekki Concession Company (LCC). It is partly- owned by Tinubu and Fashola. It has been been developed into a golf course and housing estate by Assets and Resource Management Ltd (ARM) as ADIVA project.

We are still waiting for a newspaper to do an editorial on this.

Fashola built a bridge to connect Lekki to Ikoyi. The bridge, the Lekki-Ikoyi bridge, is described as a “suspended bridge”. The bridge is by no means a suspended bridge. Most Lagosians are clueless of what a suspended bridge is. However, they accept it as that. The bridge costs the State a staggering N38 Billion ( they creatively skimmed off N2b from N40B, to make it N38Billion, in order to give the project amount some decency). The House of Assembly’s verification exercise rated the bridge as being not worth more than N7 billion. Whatever happened to N31Billion is best left to the imagination of the tax payers.

No newspaper has reported this.

Still on the Lekki-Ikoyi bridge. The Lekki-Ikoyi “suspended” bridge is a 1.8km bridge. It is built on low-tide (shallow) waters. It was built at an incredible cost of N38Billion. That is over $250m dollar for a 1.8km bridge! Mathematically, that translates to about N18million per meter length (over $120k per length). In other words, N420, 200 per inch ($40, 0000 per inch). Perhaps, the bridge was built with gold-plated gravel and steel.

However, this leaves one wondering how much it would then take Fashola to build the fabled 4TH Mainland bridge, a bridge that is expected to span 15km.

No wonder they have refused to sign the FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT in Lagos State till date and Fashola is in court with SERAP against their request for how he spent $90m World Bank Education loan and other Education Funds.

Fashola argues that the FOI Act does not apply to Lagos State!

Photo: This is Muhammadu Buhari inside Tinubu's PRIVATE JET, a Bombadier Global Express XRS. It is said to cost about $50m (N10bn)

Contributed by Ogbuefi blogs