Secret Reporters No place to hide
Secrets Reporters
Data buried within the Lagos State open procurement portal have exposed fresh cases of contract racketeering involving some high-ranking public officeholders under the leadership of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
According to the data accessed by SecretsReporters, the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation and Lagos State Primary Health Care Board awarded contracts to companies owned and managed by individuals who are public office holders.
One such case involves the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation’s award of a contract valued at N1,940,000.00 for the procurement of three photocopiers to Gneous Technologies Nig Ltd.
This online media gathered that the contract was awarded in April 2021. The details did not reveal the procurement method used or the names of the other companies that bid for the contract.
Investigations have revealed that the company’s owner, Alade Saliu Adewale, concurrently holds a position as a councilor in Ijegun, Lagos State, violating Section 6(b) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act.
Igneous Technologies Nig Ltd, with RC-996310, was incorporated on 25th November 2011. Its registered address is No.4, Araromi Street, Ijegun, Lagos.
Similarly, in November 2022, the Lagos State Primary Health Care Board awarded a contract for the Renovation of Ijora Oloye Primary Health Care Centre, Apapa. The contract pegged at N65, 947,063.28 was awarded to Oupearl Scientific Oil and Gas Services Limited.
Findings revealed that the company is owned by Hakeem Olusola Sokunle, a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly representing Oshodi/Isolo Constituency I.
OUPEARL SCIENTIFIC OIL AND GAS SERVICES LTD, with registration number RC-1701666, was incorporated on August 24, 2020. The company’s registered address is No 31 Ago Ijaye Street, Orile, Oshodi, Lagos State.
In a similar move in November 2022, the Lagos State Primary Health Care Board awarded another contract for the Renovation of Owu Ikosi Primary Health Centre, Ikosin-Ejirin.
The contract, worth N89, 856,355.70, was awarded to Redline Projects Limited. Investigation revealed that the company is owned by Hakeem Olusola Sokunle, who is a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly representing Oshodi/Isolo Constituency I
It is imperative to state that section 6(b) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act states that “except where he is not employed on a full-time basis, engage or participate in the management or running of any private business, profession or trade; but nothing in this paragraph shall prevent a public officer from engaging in farming or participating in the management or running of any farm.”
