Alleged corruption: Group asks EFCC, AGF Malami to probe Tinubu, Fashola

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) may soon beam its searchlight on the administrations of former Lagos State governors, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Babatunde Raji Fashola, following a fresh request to probe corruption allegations under them.

A petition addressed to the EFCC and Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, is seeking investigations into the tenures of Tinubu, who served as Lagos governor from 1999 to 2007, and Fashola who was governor of the state from 2007 to 2015.

The petition written by the Coalition Against Corruption and Impunity was signed by its Coordinator and Secretary, John Olufemi and Mohammed Sanni, respectively.

The group wants the EFCC, Attorney-General and Inspector General of Police to look into previous allegations that were yet to be treated by the anti-graft agency.

The coalition identified such allegations to include:

1. The development of 1,000 hectares of land for golf course and housing estate by Asset and Resource Management Limited at N75 billion located at Lakowe near Ibeju Lekki Government given to Lekki Concession Company (LCC).
2. That Tinubu contravened Section 7 of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, Cap 56 LFN, 1990, by operating eight foreign bank accounts while he was Lagos governor.
3. That 250 hectares of land valued at N35 billion strategically located at Ajah Junction on Lekki Road originally meant for the construction of General Hospital for Eti-Osa Local Government, was handed over to Trojan Estate Limited; transferring of the annex of Lagos State Guest House in Asokoro Abuja, purchased by the Lagos State Government in 2006 for N450 million to protect the main building from security breach and a 14-hectare Parkview Ikoyi estate foreshore land reclaimed by Lagos State Government.
4. Payment of 70 percent up front to contractor cronies for awarded contract yet to be executed in contravention of section 120 (4) of the 1999 constitution.

Part of the petition reads: “It is in this light that we write to request that you use your good offices to allow for thorough and detailed investigations into the activities of the Lagos State Government, especially between the period 1999 to 2015. As citizens we are alarmed by mind-boggling wrongdoing perpetrated during this period and we are even more perplexed that the Law Enforcement and Anti-Corruption Agencies have over the years appear uninterested and unwilling to probe the many allegations of infractions allegedly committed in Lagos state.

”We believe the fight against corruption should be absolute and total with no sacred cows allowed. No territory or individual under the Federal Republic of Nigeria should be beyond investigation of the anti-corruption agencies. Inaction on matters like this is a huge dent to the government’s claim to fight against corruption”.