There appears to be a second level fraud in the procurement of equipment and products for government office holders in Nigeria. The Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Obafemi Hamzat, is opening up some hidden truth.
Now he has distanced himself from the claim by the Public Procurement Agency that his office received ₦2 billion to purchase rechargeable fans, rechargeable lights and fridges.
Hamzat in a memo addressed to the Director General of the procurement agency, said the approval for the project was ₦2 million.
According to Hamzat, his wife got ₦2.5 million each for her monthly outreach to indigents and empowerment programme.
This is against the ₦30 million captured by the agency.
The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu came under criticism for approving ₦7.5 million to replace liquid fragrance.
Also, he approved ₦2 billion to purchase rechargeable fans.
The Memo
Hamzat gave the clarification in a memo signed by Director, Finance and Account, Tola Ekemode. It was signed on behalf of the Permanent Secretary in the office of the deputy governor.
He said the report by the agency was untrue, mischievous, fake and unfounded.
Ekemode said: “It is important to state that truly, the office did get approval.
“It also awarded the provision of supply items (rechargeable fans, rechargeable lights and fridges) for the sum of ₦2 Million.
“This is against the ₦2 billion reported by Doherty in his purported letter.
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“In addition, the report that the office through the Wife of the Deputy Governor spent ₦30 million monthly for outreach to indigents is inaccurate, as the amount stated covered the whole year.
Empowerment Programme
“It is ₦2.5 million per month. Same for the Empowerment programme by the Wife of the Deputy Governor.
“It was ₦2.5 million per month as against ₦30 million monthly reported.”
Also, he wants the agency to take immediate action in addressing the issue.
This is by giving the general public a true account of what was approved.
“The Office of the Deputy Governor wishes to state in unequivocal terms, for your immediate action and the attention of millions of readers that the report is untrue, mischievous, fake, and unfounded.
“We are compelled to write this letter due to the inaccuracies it conveyed.
“The story was completely different and not a true reflection of what we have in our records.
“Also, we would not allow some individual(s) and journalists with mischievous inclination to bring the personality and name of the Deputy Governor, his wife, and the office to disrepute.”
