Lagos Assembly Initiates Probe into Sanwo-Olu’s Expenditure on Perfume, Rechargeable Fans, and More

• Lagos State House of Assembly summons Public Procurement Agency to investigate alleged extravagant spending by Governor Sanwo-Olu and Deputy Governor Hamzat
• Despite clarification on some expenses, questions persist, leading to the Assembly’s decision to probe the matter and postpone nominee screenings

The Lagos State House of Assembly has summoned the State Public Procurement Agency (PPA) to investigate alleged extravagant spending by the offices of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat. Reports indicate that Governor Sanwo-Olu faced criticism for approving N7.5 million to replace liquid fragrance in his office and N2 billion for rechargeable fans in the deputy governor’s office.

Despite Deputy Governor Hamzat clarifying that his office received only N2 million instead of the reported N3 billion, questions have arisen about other expenses. These include N44.8 million for clearing vegetables within the Epe Mixed Development Scheme and N73.1 million for producing official portraits of President Bola Tinubu and the governor.

Speaker Mudashiru Obasa stated during plenary that the Assembly needed to investigate the issue to establish the facts, despite efforts by the executive to dismiss the story as untrue. The Assembly also decided to postpone screening six cabinet nominees sent by Sanwo-Olu for confirmation due to a lack of disclosure of their identities. The governor’s letter only named one commissioner-nominee, Mr. Abiodun Ogunleye, with the identities of the five special adviser nominees unspecified.

Meanwhile, Governor Sanwo-Olu, responding to the controversy surrounding the procurement record released by the Lagos State Public Procurement Agency, affirmed his administration’s openness to criticism. Speaking during the inauguration of the Lagos State Building Control Agency building in Ikeja, the governor welcomed an open letter from the governorship candidate of the Action Democratic Congress, Funso Doherty, challenging him to clarify the approval of substantial expenditure.

Governor Sanwo-Olu assured that the government would continue to publish its spending, keeping it open for public scrutiny. He acknowledged the importance of criticism, emphasizing the government’s commitment to transparency and responsibility. Despite recognizing the possibility of mistakes in the procurement record, he stressed his team’s dedication to serving the people of Lagos and the state with utmost commitment.