An anti-corruption group, the Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, has accused a former Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola (SAN), of leaving behind a debt of N500bn for the new administration.
This is contrary to the N418.2bn figure Fashola was said to have claimed in his handover note to his successor, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.
CACOL, in an interview with newsmen, said it had written eight petitions against the former governor to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Related Offences Commission and the Lagos State House of Assembly on the matter.
Its earliest petitions were written in 2010.
According to the Executive Director of CACOL, Mr. Debo Adeniran, Fashola’s government failed woefully to meet certain needs of the people in the state.
He alleged that the ex-governor embarked on frivolous spending on white elephant projects, unnecessary and excessive donations, lack of due process in budget implementation, illegal deduction and diversion of statutorily-allocated funds and properties, as well as inflation of costs of already awarded contracts.
Adeniran said, “Fashola should also account for what he did with state funds to the extent of leaving N500bn in debt. He has not shown adequate justification for the enormous debt he left behind; that he met some debt on the ground was not an excuse because he was expected to defray the debt he met rather than compound it.
“Basically, they have not been able to answer the question, all they give are abuses.”
When asked if he had any proof that Fashola enriched himself while he was the governor of Lagos, Adeniran stated that CACOL had not been able to trace the destination of all the money that was missing.
He said, “What I challenge them (Fashola and his supporters) to do is to supply the account of how Fashola had managed Lagos’ funds for the eight years. All we know is that the money accrued to Lagos state has not been spent on the needs of Lagos.
“Most of the contracts awarded before 2010 were said to have been immorally inflated by the administration of Babatunde Raji Fashola.
“Same with the over N4tn budget: he has not accounted for how much he paid as salaries; how much he spent in buying recharge cards; how much he spent on petrol; how much he spent on entertainment; and how much he spent on consumables.”
According to the handover note passed down to Ambode, Fashola left a debt burden of N418.2bn.
The debt profile showed a steep rise in comparison with the N15bn Fashola inherited from his predecessor, Senator Bola Tinubu.
A breakdown of the debt showed a domestic debt of N69.666bn obtained from bank loans, N225bn from bond issuance and N207.499bn external loan from foreign bodies.
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Cacol should also tell us about Jonathan's debt. That is when I will take them serious. Why is the focus on Fashola only? What about other state governors that have finished their tenure, something is clearly wrong.
ReplyDelete@La, I totally agree with u. Why dis hammer on Fashola only and left other PDP governors dat believes "Corruption is not stealing "
DeleteWhy won't you totally agree with him. If it was Buhari probing PDP officials, you would have shouted corruption fight and change mantra, now it is Fashola, you are shouting wolf. You can kick start other governors. It is a collective fight or you want us to believe the fight is for non APR members. My foot!!!
DeleteDebo Adeniran, where is your prove. He that alleges must prove. Why are all of you so scare about Fashola becoming a federal minister? How much were you paid for this dirty job? Enemy of progress.
DeleteIts one after the other bro. I know u are a pro- fashola. Pls let cacol finish with him first. We will go after others due time
ReplyDeleteYou are being silly. So you really think fashola will be jailed #never. Thats what they aim at and they cannot achieve it whats d big difference btw 418 and 500 i thought he even claimed not to be in debt at all. Mscheew
DeleteFashola have not attaind the seat president he spent 500bn without accountable for what anything,so when he becomes president the whole wide world wii hear him.there nothing wrong with that you busy calling jonathan becos hatred.
ReplyDeleteAre you people (APC)saying that Fashola is a saint ?...Amaechi ,Tunubu,Atiku,Rochas and others are free from corruption because they're in APC, If we dont single out all corrupt Leaders (people like IBB, OBAJANJO& co)& Punish them by law... Nigeria / Nigerian's will not be free from them & there children, most of them are richer than Nigeria as a nation ...
ReplyDeleteThis write up shows that sentiments overrides senses in Nigeria.
ReplyDeleteShell has debts; Mobil has debts; Dangote has debts and even UK has debts; Canada has deficit budgets! You can not develop without debts, it's as simple as APC.
Great achievers know it's not about the debts but the judicious use of the debts. We're the funds diverted, if the airline is NO, then CACOL leadership should be enrolled in a course in Economics.
Please corruption should not be politicize please, be it fashola, amaechi tinubu, jonathan or even buhari. We need to start doing the right thing in this country.
ReplyDeletePlease corruption should not be politicize please, be it fashola, amaechi tinubu, jonathan or even buhari. We need to start doing the right thing in this country.
ReplyDeletePlease corruption should not be politicize please, be it fashola, amaechi tinubu, jonathan or even buhari. We need to start doing the right thing in this country.
ReplyDelete