Corruption Hub: Lagos State Special Committee on Rehabilitation of Public Schools Diverts Over ₦220 Million To Cronies 

Secrets Reporters

In January 2023, we uncovered how the Lagos State Special Committee on Rehabilitation of Public Schools awarded two contracts to a non-existing company, raising concerns about accountability in public procurement.

The investigation highlighted that a company named More-Concept Integrated Services Ltd, which was found to be fictitious, received two contracts from the SCRPS. The first contract, valued at ₦3,672,000, was awarded on May 4, 2022, under the engagement of janitorial services framework agreement with the code OCDS-5Q8FSW-11202222815386.

The second contract awarded to More-Concept Integrated Services Ltd was another engagement of janitorial services framework agreement. This contract, worth ₦3,618,000, was assigned on July 23, 2021, with the code OCDS-5Q8FSW-5202252148570. Both agreements involved janitorial services despite the company’s non-existent status.

In a fresh investigation, documents exclusively obtained by this online media have revealed that the Lagos State Special Committee on Rehabilitation of Public Schools awarded another multi-million Naira contract to an unqualified company suspected to be owned by cronies.

This contract involved the fabrication and supply of 2,980 units of school furniture for identified schools and was valued at ₦220,852,568.17.

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The contract was awarded to Avalier Concepts Limited, a company with registration number RC-1759776. Official records indicate that Avalier Concepts Limited was registered on February 18, 2021. This registration date renders the company ineligible for the contract, as procurement regulations often require firms to have been in existence for at least three years before securing public contracts.

According to records, Odunaiya Oluwatosin Bolutife and Okorafor Emmanuel have significant control in the Lagos based company.  

The investigation revealed potential lapses in adherence to procurement laws, raising questions about due diligence processes in awarding these contracts. The findings draw attention to the operations of the SCRPS and the integrity of its contract-award procedures.

Public procurement regulations in Nigeria are designed to ensure transparency, accountability, and competition. Companies that fail to meet eligibility criteria, such as a minimum number of years of operation, are typically excluded to prevent irregularities and ensure fairness.

Remarkably, since last year that this online media started a series on contract racketeering within the Lagos State Government, the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration is yet to release an official response to these findings.