BEVERLY HILLS, September 06, (THEWILL) – There is unease in Ekiti State over the approval and purchase of a 2018 Lexus LX 570 Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) valued at N75 million by the state Governor Ayo Fayose as a “parting gift”.
Reports indicate that that the vehicle was bought about a month ago ahead of the change of government on October 16.
It was gathered that a memo for the purchase of the vehicle emanated from the Political and Economic Department of the Governor’s Office through the Office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG).
The letter authorizing the purchase of the SUV was addressed to the SSG, Dr. Modupe Alade, written by Mr. Bayo Opeyemi, the Executive Secretary/Director General, and was dated August 1.
The deal was alleged approved same day by Fayose with his signature on the document.
The memo reads: “Kindly refer to the request for the direct procurement of one unit of 2018 Lexus LX 570 (U.S Specs) as a parting gift for the governor by the Political and Economic Affairs Department of the Governor’s Office at Page 15.
“The invoice at page 18 has been reviewed by the state’s Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) from N68,000,000 (exclusive of tax) to N66,000,000. The inclusion of 13 per cent tax will bring the total cost to N75,862,068.96.
“Please, present for approval the direct procurement of one unit of 2018 Lexus LX (US Specs) as parting gift for the Governor a sum of N75,862,068.96.”
A Certificate of No Objection (CONO) for Contract Award for the procurement of the SUV was also issued by Ekiti State Bureau of Public Procurement, dated August 3 while a Certificate of Purchase (COP) was also issued.
The Chief Press Secretary to Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Idowu Adelusi, has however, debunked the alleged purchase of a N75 million Lexus “parting gift” to the governor from government coffers.
He also urged anyone with evidence that Fayose paid N43 million as severance package to himself and his deputy, Prof. Kolapo Olusola, to show it.
“Those who alleged should come forward with genuine evidence of purchase of the vehicle as well as payment of severance allowance.
“Those who are saying these things are ignorant of the law,” he said.
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