Lagos Assembly denies awarding N17b contract for gate project

Obasa debunks allegation of relationship with EFCC boss

Lagos State House of Assembly has described as unfounded the allegation by an anti-corruption coalition that it awarded a N17 billion contract for the construction of the Assembly’s gate. Chairman, House Committee on Information, Security and Strategy, Stephen Ogundipe, made the clarification in a statement, yesterday.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), an anti-corruption group, Lagos State Anti-Corruption Coalition, had recently written the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe the House leadership for awarding the gate contract.

But reacting, Ogundipe described the petition as frivolous, saying that it was designed to discredit the House for political goals. The chairman said the gate project at the Assembly had been executed over three years ago, adding that there was no recent project like that at the Assembly.

He said it was worthy to let the group know that though the Assembly had its own procurement unit, it still relied on the state government’s procurement process from start to finish.

According to him, it is preposterous to think that in Lagos State, contracts are like witchcraft and its nocturnal posting.

“Even if the gate is made of gold, would it cost such an amount? To the group that decided to rush to the public without thinking through or double-checking what it said it sourced through ‘grapevine’”, he said.

Besides, the Speaker, Dr Mudashiru Obasa, who spoke during the plenary, said the allegation stemmed from the fear of some people over 2027. He also debunked the claim that the House spent N200 million on its recently organised 22nd thanksgiving service for members of staff.

Obasa, while speaking on the alleged relationship between him and the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, denied attending the latter’s screening and confirmation by the National Assembly.