SERAP wants ICPC, CCB to probe Lasun’s alleged N1.1b water contract

•Allegation a cheap blackmail, says deputy speaker
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) is seeking a probe of alleged N1.1billion water contract.

A petition by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Timothy Adewale, said the contract involved the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Lasun Yusuf.

The petition was addressed to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences

According to SERAP, the contracts in the Ministry of Water Resources, Lagos, amounted to about N1.1 billion.

The statement implored the anti-graft agencies: “to jointly investigate the allegation of incompatibility, which is apparent conflict of interest and abuse of office.”

He said the deputy speaker used his personal company to win the water contracts.

According to the organisation, the contracts were part of the National Assembly’s Zonal Intervention Projects (ZIP).

He disclosed that the “constituency projects were part of the joint projects attracted to the state by 12 members of the National Assembly from Osun State, who had been elected to the two chambers between 2011 and 2015.”

But, Yusuff in his reaction, said the allegation is a mere blackmail, which was crafted because of his governorship aspiration.

The deputy speaker, who represents Irepodun/Orolu/Olorunda/Osogbo Federal Constituency, and who was then the Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Water Resources, was alleged to have used his position to bid and win the contract without the knowledge of his colleagues.

The Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority (OORBDA), reportedly said it awarded the Ife-Odan scheme for N538, 412,653.06, and Ila-Orangun for N539, 128,429.13, while N541, 193,861.23 was awarded for the Ipetu Ijesha project.

The Osun State Water Corporation had in 2016, rejected the projects at Ife-Odan and Ila-Orangun, insisting that the contracts were not adequately executed.

“According to reports, searches at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), allegedly revealed that the deputy speaker is a director at Nur and Company Limited, with his wife, Omowunmi Rasheeda, and his three children: Ayomide, Feyisara and Rasheeda, serving as shareholders and directors.”

In calling for the probe, SERAP said: “Public officials allegedly securing to themselves and/or their companies and family members privileges rightly belonging to the public by by-passing, or manipulating the formal procedures necessary for the award of these privileges is a textbook case of conflict of interest.”