The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has begun an investigation into an alleged multi-billion naira fraud involving officials of Kosofe Local Government Area, Lagos State, SaharaReporters has gathered.
Ganiyu Olamiji Oyebanjo, the Special Adviser on Boundary Matters in the council, had petitioned the anti-graft agency.
SaharaReporters earlier reported that Oyebanjo was arrested by policemen from Zone 2 in Lagos over the petition.
He alleged that the Chairman of Kosofe Local Government, Moyosore Adedoyin Ogunlewe, purchased a property worth N800 million with funds allegedly diverted from the council treasury.
In the petition obtained by SaharaReporters, Oyebanjo also accused Ogunlewe of buying a black Toyota Camry with registration number KJA 709 JD, worth millions of naira, for one Ibraheem Adisa Mustapha, “so that he wouldn’t contest against Ogunlewe’s second-term bid.”
“It is on this premise that I have been encouraged to present this petition to inform you about the reckless looting of the treasury of Kosofe Local Government by the present administration, led by Hon. Barr. Moyosore Adedoyin Ogunlewe and his functionaries,” part of the petition read.
“It is important to mention that the local government is struggling financially due to the reckless manner in which its resources have been handled by the present administration. Project costs have been inflated, Exco minutes doctored and manipulated.
“Purchases and procurement processes were not properly followed. No Exco member is aware of the council’s financial programs, among many other irregularities. I also urge this Honourable Institution to ask the Executive Chairman of Kosofe Local Government, Barrister Moyosore Adedoyin Ogunlewe, to explain how he has been managing both federal allocations and the internally generated revenue of the local government since assuming office.
“In recent days, due to intimidation, coercion, force, threats, suspension, and outright dismissal by the Executive Chairman, some Exco members have yielded to his pressure and decided to align with him. For this reason, I have attached all WhatsApp chats and voice notes from a platform I created for Supervisors and Special Advisers. The comments of each member can be seen and heard. This is in case anyone later denies their involvement due to financial inducements or threats.
“Everything is saved on a flash drive attached to this petition. For the sake of a swift and thorough investigation, I have included the full details and phone contacts of relevant individuals. Also attached is the signature page, which all petitioners signed before they split apart. No executive member of the local government is aware of all the EXTRACTS and payments made in the attached documents.
“I would also like to inform this Honourable Institution that the civil servant who provided me with these documents was arrested by the Executive Chairman of the council and handed over to the police at Area H, Ojota/Ogudu, directly opposite the local government secretariat. He was detained from Saturday, June 8, to Monday, June 10, 2024. He was beaten and seriously tortured, leading him to confess to the police, in the Chairman’s presence, about some of the documents he had given me.
“Ever since this incident, the Chairman told the civil servant at the police station that he was going to kill both of us. Fearing for my life, I had to take cover and flee to my in-law’s place in Delta State. I left Lagos on June 10, 2024, when some police officers from Area H in Ogudu came to my house looking for me. I received several threats over the phone from unknown and unidentified callers. Strange faces were seen in the mosque where I usually pray. I returned to Lagos on July 5, 2024.
“Some of the documents, especially the EXTRACTS, were quickly doctored and rewritten. The EXTRACTS and approvals they claim were made by the Executive Committee are all false. At no time were these projects ever discussed in Exco meetings. At no time did the Chairman ever mention the federal allocation or internally generated revenue.
“No Exco member is aware of the local government’s financial situation. To expedite the work of this highly respected Institution, I have included the names of some council staff members who should be invited for questioning. Also included is the name of the Exco minutes recorder, who was used to rewrite the minutes after the original ones were altered. The signatures of other Exco members are also attached.”
The petition continues:
Some fictitious contracts allegedly awarded without due consultation or the knowledge of the Executive Committee include the following:
- Extract from the minutes of the Executive Committee meeting held on Monday, October 16, 2023, at the NULGE Conference Hall, Kosofe Local Government Secretariat
- The committee purportedly resolved to spend N9,520,827.02, but this was never discussed in any Exco meeting.
- Extract from the minutes of the Executive Committee meeting held on Tuesday, March 15, 2024, at the NULGE Conference Hall, Kosofe
- N11,910,367.35 was allegedly approved, but this was never deliberated in any Exco meeting.
- Extract from the minutes of the Executive Committee meeting held on January 24, 2024, at the NULGE Conference Hall, Kosofe Local Government Secretariat
- The sum of N30,000,000 was said to have been approved for the supply of two transformers, but the Executive Committee was never informed.
- Extract from the minutes of the Executive Committee meeting held on February 13, 2024, at the NULGE Conference Hall, Kosofe
- N30,000,000 was allegedly spent on the supply of two transformers, but this was a total falsehood. The Executive members were not aware.
- The Chairman claimed to have spent:
- N500,000 on a school debate in 2023 (which did not take place)
- N500,000 on a quiz competition (which never happened)
- N500,000 on a three-day seminar and workshop (which did not occur)
- N11,562,500 on palliatives
- N15,000,000 on a Chairman’s Football Competition, where the winner received only N1,000,000
- N24,700,000 on a five-day workshop on “Curbing Covetousness” (which never happened)
- N8,900,000 to partition the Council Manager’s office
The petition also cites violations of Lagos State Local Government Guidelines, including:
- Lack of financial transparency
- No consultation of Executive Committee members on expenditures
- No due process followed in awarding contracts
- Payments made without proper approvals
Oyebanjo urges the ICPC to conduct a thorough investigation into these allegations and hold those responsible accountable.
