By our reporter| The speaker of Lagos state house of assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, has explained how the sum of N80 million was spent as estacode for training of 20 wives of house members who went for training in Dubai.
Obasa gave the explanation when he appeared before a panel of inquiry, chaired by hon. Victor Akande, set up to probe corruption allegations levelled against him by SaharaReporters.
The publication had after a thorough investigation, alleged that Obasa owns more than 60 bank accounts and also used his office to misappropriate funds and allocate contracts to himself through third party sources, as well as other acquaintances.
However, Obasa, who appeared before the panel on Saturday, said the allegations were untrue as all expenses were done with the approval of the house, as well as the fund management committee (FMU) which he chairs.
On the allegation he spent N258 million to print invitation cards for the inauguration of the ninth assembly, he said the event cost N61 million, and that N1.1 million was spent on printing the invitation cards.
Obasa said, “It is not possible to spend N258 million to print invitation cards. We are not involved in such a frivolous expenditure.”
On how N80 million was spent as estacode for training in Dubai, Obasa said wives of 20 lawmakers attended the event and he was there to declare the event open.
He said, “We gave N4 million to each of the participants for air tickets, hotels, feeding and local travel. Air ticket to Dubai alone is about N2 million. Some of these allegations were raised for a crusade to get the speaker out of office.”
“The house of assembly is above common standard of excellence and we have to train people, and this comes with a cost. Learning is not cheap and I have never collected N80 million for estacode at a go before.”
On the purchase of exotic cars, he said. “We bought land cruisers for principal officers of the house. The cars we bought for them are always higher than those of other members and we followed due process in the purchase. We went through the public procurement agency (PPA) and others and the vehicles were distributed appropriately.
“It was agreed at the parliamentary meetings on about four occasions and the clerk of the house, Mr Azeez Sanni, is the secretary.
“Also, it is not true that my wife collects N10 million monthly from the house. Anyone who says she does should come with proofs and evidences.
“My approval limit as the speaker is N100 million, and anything above that would have to be approved by the fund management committee.”
Officials of Zenith Bank, John Olorundare, chief compliance officer, and Sanni Idowu Awe, zonal head of Alausa, also appeared before the panel.
The bank officials disclosed that an individual can only have one BVN, and different account names could not be used for one BVN.
They also confirmed that the embattled speaker had six accounts with Zenith Bank, and that only two of the accounts are operational, one savings and one current.
The rest are dormant, they said.
Leave a Reply