Lagos Assembly Sets Up Committee To Investigate Gov. Fashola

Lagos Jan 28, (THEWILL) – These are sure not the best of times for Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola as the Lagos State House of Assembly on Thursday set up a 6-man committee to investigate alleged financial misappropriation leveled against him by a group which called itself "The True Face Of Lagos." The group had published an advertorial of his alleged financial misdeeds in one of the national dailies.

Pundits believe the allegations are politically motivated by groups loyal to former Lagos State governor Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to facilitate the impeachment of Fashola who has been at loggerheads with the former governor over government funds.

The Assembly took the decision after a member, Hon. Onibiyo Adelabu informed the lawmakers of the advertorial.

Addressing the Assembly, Adelabu said, "I came across an advertorial in a newspaper today and it was full of serious allegations. All of us, including the state executive arm, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and other party chieftains were accused in the publication. Immediately I finished reading it, I called those that signed it and they told me that they stand by it and that they still have more to come."

"So I will urge the Assembly to look into this matter so that we don’t allow anybody to tarnish our image," he concluded.

Agreeing with Adelabu, another member, Rotimi Olowo said he was not aware of the allegations, as they were new. He said, "We need to be careful because we don’t know if it is the handiwork of our detractors. If we are hearing these allegations from people that call themselves the true face of Lagos, then there is need to investigate all these allegations."  

The 6-man committee has Rasak Balogun as head, and has till Monday, February 15, 2010 to report its findings to the Assembly.