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Invitation Cards: Lagos Assembly Refutes Allegation Of ₦258M Misappropriation
The Lagos state house of assembly has denied allegations of ₦258 million fraud allegedly perpetrated by its speaker, Mudashiru Obasa.
SaharaReporters, an online media outfit, had reported that the speaker approved ₦258 million for printing of invitation cards for an event that held two months earlier.
The outfit alleged that the speaker approved the money in August for the inauguration of the 9th assembly members that held in June.
It averred that the fresh allegation of misappropriation and embezzlement was one in series of corrupt practices that the speaker uses his plum office to perpetrate.
But in a statement on Saturday signed by the speaker’s chief press secretary, Tolani Abati, the assembly, the Speaker described the report as disparaging.
The assembly said the media outfit had deviated from tenets of journalism as it has embarked on campaign aimed at blackmailing the speaker, adding that the new allegation was coming after it dispelled the report that the speaker spent ₦17 million for his office renovation.
It disclosed that N1,130,000 was spent on invitation cards, contrary to claims of ₦258 million by the outfit.
“Our attention has been called to another set of fake reports carried out again by Sahara Reporters, an online medium that has become infamous for blackmailing people rather than follow the true dictates of media ethics.
” Its latest series of deliberate falsehoods is coming days after we came out with proof that the medium LIED in its claim that the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, spends N17 million to maintain his office and personal apartment.” the statement read
” Let us start with its latest disparaging story about how the Speaker supposedly approved N258,835,000 to print invitation two months after the inauguration of the 9th Assembly.
“It can only take a gullible Nigerian to believe a story of this nature. One would think that the writer was not in his right frame of mind as he put his pen to paper.
” WHAT WAS APPROVED FOR THE PRINTING OF THE INVITATION CARD FOR EVENT WAS JUST
“N1,130,000. But how Sahara Reporters arrived at N258,835,000 beats the imagination of any sane person.”
The statement also disclosed that the amount quoted by SaharaReporters to have been spent of invitation cards printing alone was not even upto half the money expended on the entire Inauguration ceremony.
It said the total amount expended on the inauguration was ₦61.3 million.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the entire inauguration of the 9th Assembly can be summed into a total of N61.3 million as the document accompanying this response shows. A breakdown of the expenses is also glaring for every discerning mind to see that Sahara Reporters is nothing but a tool for blackmail.
“In another spurious report, the medium contemptuously claimed that the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, gave approval of N45.7 million for a 2019 Christmas party that never held.
” In its rush to satisfy its co-travellers who furnished it with the lies, the traducing medium ‘shot itself in the foot’ by failing to carry out the minutest of investigations – did the party actually hold?
” One would naturally have disregarded this particular report. However, it is just necessary to school Sahara Reporters that the medium is only dragging itself to disrepute with the fakes it vomits of people without adequate proofs.
” For the avoidance of doubts, here are a few things Sahara Reporters should know and report back to those sending it on a wild goose chase:
1. The party held at the Assembly premises of the Lagos State Assembly and it was two-in-one, a combination of the Outreach programme and the normal Christmas party.
2. The First Lady of Lagos, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu was at the event.
3. As usual, there were clergymen at the event where a sermon was preached by notable man of God and General Overseer of Christ Living Apostolic Ministry (CLAM), Pastor Wole Oladiyun.
4. His Royal Highness, Babatunde Ogunlaja, senior female politician, Chief Kemi Nelson, party chiefs and local government chairmen were there.
5. It is worthy of note that the children also held their party, which is the norm, at a different part of the Assembly premises on the same day.
6. There are photographs and videos evidences to back up this explanation and pooh-pooh the hatchet job reeking of mischief carried out by Sahara Reporters.
7. The event was even an opportunity to recognise and honour deserving staff who had excelled in the course of their careers.”
The statement also said the outfit goofed on claims that the speaker spent N53. 7 million on travelling expenses of his mistress to the United State”
“On the claimed N53.7 million approved by the Speaker to take an imaginary mistress to the United States, Sahara Reporters again goofed because it failed to acknowledge that the travel was officially for Speaker Obasa, members of the House and some staff.
“Again, here are the facts Sahara Reporters either deliberately and maliciously shielded or was blind to:
1. The event was to Georgia, United States, for the 2019 US-Nigeria Trade and Investment Global Summit which was billed to hold between 26th and 28th September 2019. As is customary, the Speaker went for the event on a different flight from the lawmakers and others.
2. However, on getting to the US, the summit was discovered to have clashed with a United Nations event which took pre-eminence on Nigerian officials. Thus, the Speaker, lawmakers and staff returned ahead of an anticipated new date for the event.
3. All those who attended the event still have evidences of their flight tickets and hotel reservations.
For the avoidance of doubt again, those who went for the event include:
1. Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa
2. Hon. Jimi Mohammed
3. Hon. Saka Nurudeen Solaja
4. Hon. Tunde Braimoh
5. Folashade Latona
6. Nike Ajibosin being in charge of protocol.
It noted that the malicious efforts of SaharaReporters and its backers were to dent the reputation of the speaker ahead of the 2023 general election.
“With the facts now laid bare again, one would wonder why Sahara Reporters remain bent on further soiling its drowning image in the eyes of reasonable Nigerians. It is also obvious that its co-travellers are do not just aim at Speaker Obasa, a lawmaker per-excellence, but are also, subconsciously, bringing down whatever remains of Sahara Reporter as a tool for blackmail.
“It is glaring beyond reasonable doubt that the primary goal is to churn out anything and everything damaging irrespective of whether they are true or not as long as the Speaker’s soaring political political profile is dented ahead of 2023. It is no longer news that Obasa has become a household name in major parts of Lagos, nay Nigeria, and this is sending strong shivers down the spine of the enemies. There is not just palpable fear, but sleepless nights, which is just starting.”
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