Assets declaration: Investigators quiz Fashola, commissioners

Assets declaration: Investigators quiz Fashola, commissioners
Qasim Akinreti, Lagos

The code of conduct bureau, an agency charged with public officials’ assets declarations,  has interviewed the  Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, his Deputy, Princess Sarah Sosan as well as Commissioners and  Special Advisers in the dissolved State Executive Council on their stewardship in relation to their assets declarations.

The Bureau’s South West Commissioner, Dr. Ademola Adebo led a seven- man team of investigators and verifiers to the state secretariat where the deputy governor and other state officers were quizzed and mandated to confirm their assets.   

Chief investigator, Adebo confirmed that some commissioners had faced the panel, saying that Fashola was yet to face the 7-man panel due to his pre-occupation with the activities ahead of the May 29 swearing-in.

He however said the team of investigators would still question the governor as required by law before the expiration of their 48 hours stay in the state.

Adebo who spoke with newsmen after quizzing the Deputy Governor, explained that the mission of the team in the state “is to investigate the activities of Fashola, his deputy, Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Commissioners and the Special Advisers, as specified by the constitution”.

The investigating team arrived at the Deputy Governor’s office at about 10:30 a.m. alongside other members of the 7-man panel and grilled the Deputy Governor and obtained vital documents, which he said, would assist them to carry out the second stage of the investigation and verification exercise.

In the words of the chief investigator,” we interrogated the deputy governor and took her through old and new forms. We took her through the old and new forms to see that when you came into the office, you had had this and now that you are going, you have this. So, justify how you came about these new things. Of course you have all documents, her statement of account from all her banks and C of O from lands department”.

He stated that if there are inconsistencies and discrepancies, the officials will face the Code of Conduct Tribunal, and that the committee can write to any bank to ask for the statement of account in line with the constitution.

Warning

He also warned the National and State Assemblies in the South West to avoid being charged for breaching the constitution by complying with the constitutional requirement before assuming their legislative activities. Adebo also urged the media and civil society groups to partner with the team, saying the bureau “is the only ones who have the structure to fight corruption."

Regrets

He lamented the devastating impact of large scale corruption by the public office holders on the economic, political, and social institutions in Nigeria, citing death-trap roads, poor health facilities, epileptic and dysfunctional power supply, collapse of both educational manpower and infrastructure, as well as failed political institutions.

According to him, stupendous budgetary allocations are announced annually at all levels of government without corresponding development to show at the end of the budget year. Critical resources meant for agriculture, education, roads and health sector among others are privately appropriated by few public office-holders, who abuse the power of their office and the position entrusted to them by the society and God.

Ekata