Secret Reporters No place to hide
Secret Reporters
In light of the recent economic trend, it may be necessary for Lagosians to request an explanation from the Lagos State commissioner for the Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, Engr. Tayo Bamgbose-Martins, as well as his counterpart from the Office of Environmental Services, regarding the award of contracts totaling N47, 403,879.72 to a company, My Space and Me Interior and Design, which investigations has revealed is a fraud and does not exist.
Investigations by SecretReporters revealed that the company which has no registration records on the Corporate Affairs Commission, the agency saddled with the responsibilities of registering companies in the country, was awarded the contract of the Engagement of a Media Service Provider for the provision of publicity, speakers/moderators at the 9th Lagos State International Climate Change Summit (ocds-5q8fsw-10202274818710) by the Office of Environmental Services on Tuesday, August 9th 2022. The media service job which is worth ₦25,015,000.00 was awarded to the company whose name suggests that it is into interior decorations. The Non-relatedness of the contract and the services expected of the company prompted SecretReporters to probe the contract where it then discovered that the company does not exist, leaving the thought of public funds diversion.
Further diggings revealed that the company was also used to secure the contract of Office Renovation and Partitioning of the Technical Support Department of the Ministry of Special Duties & IGR through the Ministry of Special Duties & Intergovernmental Relations. The contract with code ocds-5q8fsw-6202212674228 was worth ₦7,076,989.72 and was awarded on Tuesday, November 9, 2021.
On Thursday, July 22, 2021, the contract of Additional Work 2 at the Emergency and Security Regional Dispatch Centre, Epe Local Government Area of Lagos State was also awarded to the company through the Ministry of Special Duties & Intergovernmental Relations. The contract with code ocds-5q8fsw-6202210430610 was awarded at ₦15,311,890.00.
According to the information on the Lagos State Public Procurement portal, the fictitious company, My Space and Me Interior and Design, has 31 employees with an asset range of ₦50,000,000 to ₦100,000,000.
To obtain a contract from the Lagos State government, a company is required to register with the procurement agency, provide its certificate of incorporation with the CAC, and pay its annual returns.
