EXCLUSIVE: Ambode revokes Fashola’s last-minute land allocations in Lekki
Akinwunmi Ambode, governor of Lagos state, has revoked the allocation of over 25 plots of land by his predecessor, Babatunde Fashola, in his final days in office.
TheCable understands that the expansive land at Lekki Phase One had been allocated to the Lagos State Water Corporation in 1998 by the then military administrator of the state, Mohamed Marwa, while the certificate of occupancy was signed by Bola Tinubu, former governor of the state, in 2006.
However, Hakeem Muri-Okunola, who was the permanent secretary of the Lagos state ministry of lands under Fashola, had reportedly informed the former governor that the land was “available”.
The land was officially parcelled into 25 plots and shared by Fashola who went on to sign the certificates of occupancy on May 26, three days to his exit from office.
The new allottees were curiously issued the old Cs of O, which had been phased out by Fashola and replaced with electronic certificates.
Most of the plots, it is alleged, were allocated to Fashola’s relatives, aides and associates — including Yewande Animashaun, his cousin who also served as his special adviser on public health, and Wale Ahmed, who served as his commissioner for special duties. A female newscaster with a Lagos-based TV station was one of the beneficiaries, TheCable learnt.
Muri-Okunola: Redeployed to ministry of youth
Meanwhile, TheCable understands that Muri-Okunola did not disclose the actual number of available plots to Fashola and was said to have kept several plots for himself, out of which three were allocated to Adeyemi Isiba, then general manager of New Towns Development Authority (NTDA), against government regulation.
Nobody is allowed to buy more than one plot in a government scheme but the three plots were registered in Isiba’s name. He has now been removed as GM of NTDA following a series of findings on the activities of the agency under his watch.
As soon as Ambode assumed office, officials of the water corporation wrote to him to complain that the land belongs to the agency and that the original C of O was still valid as it was not voided by Fashola before the reallocation.
Ambode, TheCable was informed, immediately launched an investigation, only to discover that Muri-Okunola had kept some plots for himself with the hope of getting the new governor to sign off on the Cs of O.
Muri-Okunola was immediately sacked by Ambode, but he was prevailed upon by prominent power brokers in Lagos to redeploy the son of the late Muri Okunola, a former justice reputed for his integrity.
Ambode later decided to redeploy the 42-year-old Muri-Okunola to the ministry of youth as permanent secretary and the ownership of the land has been reverted to water corporation.
Both Muri-Okunola and Isiba did not respond to text messages sent by TheCable on the Lekki land affair.
Fashola has been in the public eye in recent times following revelations that he awarded a N78 million contract to set up a website in his name.
Punch also reported on Monday that Fashola approved N138 million for the sinking of two boreholes at the Lagos House, Ikeja — according to information sourced from the website of the Lagos State Public Procurement Agency.
Change is here
May be true as there are no saints in Nigerian Politics. No matter what is attributed to Fashola, he can never overtake Ambode’s sponsor’s record as revealed by AIT during the campaigns. For me APC is shooting itself in the foot in Lagos by the trend of events. An APC government succeeded another and we are choosing this path. Ambode should be ready for only one term in office as this is sure ammunition for PDP in the next election come 2019. Good luck to CHANGE.
You are absolutely correct. So much for continuity. While I do not support corruption, it appears a lot Ambode’s activities have a vindictive bent. The PDP will certainly capitalize on this!
Nigerians are so naive & gullible! They are very porous in their brain: believing any story without scrutiny or intellectual analysis!
I regret voting APC and sympathise with everyone who voted the party in Lagos State at the last election. The morning is already beginning to tell the day. And to think we have to endure this for four years!
From one administration to another, Lagos State is full of dirty deals. This is only coming up because of bad blood between Fashola and Ambode. Fashola sacked Ambode and was against his nomination for Gov by Tinubu.
Who owns the rest of empty/un-fenced plots in Lekki phase 1? No condition is permanent!
Mr Muri-okunola “kept some plots for himself” and you re-deployed him after having initially sacked him, what message is the Governor passing to people? If you have a godfather..all is well right? I commend him for revoking the C of O though..it only makes sense for the greater Good
My thoughts exactly! Speaks volumes about Ambode’s integrity or should I say lack of it! They are all birds of the same feather and this thing will come back to hunt APC in Lagos state come 2019. Bode George can kick back and relax, they are doing all the work for him. Practically all our politician are the same, even most “men of God” now are questionable.
Ejowo eje kan nife ara wa nitori oluwa. “Please, let us love ourselves”
They (APC) promised us freedom, but they themselves are slaves to corruption. Another pig is in the ring for a wrestling. I can see APC’s number one saint in Lagos approaching in white robes for another show down. Act 3 scene 1.
Your comment..Why PDP not worry about their dying party destiny Mind your party and form another one.APC is already making progress or PDP do not take note Bayelsa and Ondo states movement. or have PDP not aware of resolution in NASS.Let us have name of outstanding and credible person in PDP.APC Go in Peace and return with testimonies. AMEN
What Ambode and by extension ,Tinubu , are doing in Lagos will come back to hunt them. Of course all acts of corruption of all shades should be exposed but in a country where governors and other elected officials are carting away billions without any tangible achievement to give back to the people who elected them, talking about website, 2 boreholes, and a few parcel of land as misappropriated by a governor of the richest state in Nigeria for 8 years, is very unfortunate.indeed. Some Nigerians are pathetic in the way they think. Otherwise why would any sane man want to rubbish Fashola over this even if it is true while nobody is talking about billions carted by others. This reminds of a a former minister who was accused of drinking coffee and accepting a gold wristwatch as gratification and Nigerians were gleefully chirping ‘ nobody is a saint’, I wonder why we will always choose to rubbish men of great achievement over minor dismeanour while we venerate smart crooks who keep this country perpetually impoverished. And we are not even sure about the accuracy of these allegations.
Senator Fatimat Raji Rasaki for a start. former Hon. of the federal republic of Nigeria. former head of Better life for rural women programme. fomer wife of Military governor of lagos state and it in state. Raji Rasaki. and there are others but I agreed there are some bad eggs that hide those good ones.
Ambode if you use ten years as governor of lagos state you can’t equal Fashola record, the difference is clear. Today is me tomorrow is you.
No relation of Fashola.
Allegations need to be investigated first before the ex-governor can be castigated. No act of corruption is to be swept under the carpet whether minor or major. However, having regard to his obvious achievements in Lagos, the ex governor deserves commendation for succeeding in a sea of maladministration and rot in the rest of Nigeria. If he was really that corrupt, how would he generate and apply all the money to the projects he put in place? We will see whether in Nigeria of today any governor including Ambode will not allocate land to his kith and kin.
Your comment..I’m thoroughly disappointed in Ambode
if ambode can probe fashola then Nigeria will be in her best state in the next decade hw many PDP govs ever probe one another APC is the answer we have been seeking,no party can beat APC in lagos,I want this change waves to be applied in anambra APGA is a tribal party