Ex – Lagos governor is in the news again as the current helmsman, Akinwunmi Ambode has revoked the allocation of over 25 plots of choice lands by ex Governor Babatunde Fashola in his last days.
Still hanging over his head are the N78 million spent to put up his personal website, N139 million spent on two bore holes, N1.2 Billion used to refurbish his deputy’s residence, N129 million spent on phone bills for his aides in seven months, and the Falomo shopping complex deal cancelled by Ambode.
Most of the plots were allegedly allocated to Fashola’s relatives, aides and associates. They include Yewande Animashaun, his cousin, who served by his Special adviser on public health, and Wale Ahmed who was his special duties commissioner female newscaster in a Lagos based TV station also allegedly benefited.
The expanse of land containing the plots in Lekki phase One had been allocated to the Lagos State Water Corporation in 1998 by then Governor Buba Marwa, and certificate of occupancy signed by ex Governor Bola Tinubu.
But sacked permanent secretary in the lands ministry, Hakeem Muri-Okunola, lied to Fashola that the land was available.
Consequently, Fashola, took charge, officially parcelled the land into 25 plots,
Signed the C of O ‘s on May 26, three days to his exit. Curiously the allotees were issued old documents which had been replaced by electronic certificates.
TheCable reports that Muri-Okunola kept several plots to himself, while the General manager, New Towns Development Authority, Adeyemi Isiba, has three plots to his name. all against government regulations that insist on one plot per official.
The scandal broke when the original owners, Water Corporation, wrote to the governor to complain about the illegality.
Sequel to the revelation, Ambode sacked Muri-Okunola, but the influence of his family, made the governor send him to the Youth ministry as permanent secretary.
