Secret Reporters No place to hide
Secrets Reporters
Alhaji Olumoh Saad Lukman, a lawmaker from Lagos State, and his business associate, Prince Sunday Ajayi, have come under scrutiny following an investigation that suggests they have been using their political influence to corner public contracts through their company, Willbond Consulting Limited.
Lukman, who represents the Ajeromi Ifelodun I constituency in the Lagos State House of Assembly, has been implicated in a series of government contract deals that raise questions about conflicts of interest and unethical practices.
Willbond Consulting, registered in 2008, has been awarded a series of contracts from various government ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) over the years. The company, with its legal address in Ikeja, Lagos, appears to have successfully maneuvered through the system, securing significant payments for a range of services including agricultural training, supply of motorcycles, and the provision of solar-powered street lights, among others.
The contracts, spread over several years, include payments for work in different parts of Nigeria, notably Lagos, Kaduna, Cross River, and Katsina states. These contracts total well over ₦300 million, including the supply of motorcycles for youth empowerment, the construction of ICT centers in Lagos, and agricultural training for youths and women across various regions.
What stands out, however, is the troubling combination of Lukman’s role as a lawmaker and his position in the company. Public office holders, according to Nigerian law, are prohibited from running private companies, as this creates a conflict of interest, undermining the integrity of their public duties. The Nigerian Constitution, under Section 6 of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, specifically prohibits public officers from engaging in any business that could present a conflict of interest. The law is clear that any public office holder who violates this provision faces penalties, including forfeiture of assets and imprisonment.
In the case of Lukman and Ajayi, their involvement in Willbond Consulting raises serious concerns about their use of political influence to secure government contracts. The payments made to Willbond Consulting over the years—including large sums like ₦42 million from Nigeria Stored Products Research in Ilorin for agricultural training, and ₦83 million for the construction and equipping of ICT centers in Lagos—suggest a pattern of systematic contract racketeering. These transactions align with a troubling trend where public resources are diverted through companies linked to powerful political figures, bypassing due process and transparency.
Laws designed to prevent such abuses include the Public Procurement Act, which mandates transparency and accountability in government contracts. These laws are intended to ensure that public funds are used appropriately, based on merit and without political favoritism. Yet, the consistent awarding of contracts to Willbond Consulting raises questions about whether these provisions are being adequately enforced. The amounts involved are staggering, and it is unclear whether the contracts were awarded based on competitive bidding or if they were influenced by Lukman’s position as a lawmaker.
The contracts include:
On October 24, 2018: Nigeria Stored Products Research, Ilorin, paid the sum of ₦42,342,342.85 to Willbond Consulting Limited as payment for agricultural training and provision of tools to youth and women in various wards of Surulere 1 Federal Constituency, Lagos State.
On January 31, 2022: National Productivity Centre paid the sum of ₦19,529,504.37 to Willbond Consulting Limited as payment of the balance of 60% job sum fee for Lot G55B for the supply of motorcycles (150cc) for youth empowerment in Lere Federal Constituency, Kaduna State.
On February 1, 2022: National Centre for Women Development paid the sum of ₦31,028,178.00 to Willbond Consulting Limited as payment for the supply of grant materials to youths and women in selected locations of Miriga, Gunt, and Yawi as per DG approval ref NCWD/PROC/ZMG.21/67.
On February 4, 2022: Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development paid the sum of ₦21,455,051.38 to Willbond Consulting Limited as payment for the reclamation and rehabilitation of problem soils in Ingawa Local Government Area, Katsina State.
On March 9, 2022: National Centre for Women Development paid the sum of ₦13,599,536.48 to Willbond Consulting Limited as payment for the supply of grant materials to women and youths in selected locations of Briyel, Fikayel, and Gamadadi as per DG approval ref NCWD/PROC/ZMG.21/67.
On March 10, 2022: Nigeria Stored Products Research, Ilorin, paid the sum of ₦83,161,908.17 to Willbond Consulting Limited as final payment for the construction and equipping of ICT centers in selected secondary schools in Lagos, including Coker Secondary School, Aguda Secondary School, Akintan Grammar School, and Community High School in Surulere.
On January 28, 2021: Rubber Research Institute, Benin, paid the sum of ₦39,170,733.63 to Willbond Consulting Limited as payment for agricultural training and empowerment of youth and women in Akinhana Cole, South West Zone.
On February 15, 2021: National Centre for Women Development paid the sum of ₦41,108,080.00 to Willbond Consulting Limited as payment for the procurement of equipment and materials (sewing machines) for distribution in Kaduna and Jigawa States as per DG approval on page 30 ref NCWD/PROC/COV.20/11.
On March 31, 2021: National Rural Electrification Agency paid the sum of ₦17,236,113.99 to Willbond Consulting Limited as payment for the provision and installation of solar-powered streetlights in Calabar South Main Avenue, Whitehouse, and Palm Street in Cross River South Senatorial District.
On March 31, 2021: National Rural Electrification Agency paid the sum of ₦8,049,817.49 to Willbond Consulting Limited as payment for the provision and installation of solar-powered streetlights in Calabar South Main Avenue, Whitehouse, and Palm Street, Cross River State.
