CSOs want Reps deputy speaker probed over contract scandal

Two civil society organisations have urged Nigeria’s anti-corruption agencies to probe House of Representatives Deputy Speaker, Lasun Yusuff, over his alleged involvement in a N1.1 billion water contract scam.

In separate press statements, the Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC) and Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) said the investigation is important to unravel the truth about allegations against Mr Yusuff.

An investigation by a New Telegraph reporter on May 24 alleged that Mr Yusuff, who is an engineer, used his personal company; Nur & Company Nigeria Limited, to secure contracts worth about N1.1 Billion from the federal government through the Ministry of Water Resources.

The newspaper, which made the allegation after four months of budget tracking, reported that Mr Yusuff during his first term in the House used the company to secure two mini-water schemes in Osun State, as advertised on behalf of the ministry by the Ogun- Osun River Basin Development Authority.

SERAP in a petition dated 8 June and signed by its Deputy Director, Timothy Adewale, urged the Conduct Bureau (CCB) and Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the allegations against Mr Lasun.

The organisation threatened to institute legal action against the government of President Muhammadu Buhari if the agencies fail to act in the next 14 days.

SERAP wants the agencies “to jointly investigate allegations of incompatibility, apparent conflict of interest and abuse of office involving Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Lasun Yusuff using his personal company to win water contracts amounting to about N1.1 billion from the Ministry of Water Resources, and to collaborate with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in any such investigation.”

The organisation urged the anti-corruption agencies to prosecute Mr Yusuff , other people mentioned in the story and companies suspected to be involved if there is relevant and sufficient admissible evidence of abuse of office and complicity against them.

“We urge you to take steps within 14 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter, failing which SERAP will institute legal proceedings to compel the government of President Muhammadu Buhari to order your agencies to act in the public interest.”

The organisation noted that Mr Yusuff’s alleged action constitute a conflict of interest according to the public procurement act.

Similarly, the Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC), which has asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate the allegation against Mr Yusuff.

In a petition forwarded to the Chairman of the anti-graft body, Ibrahim Magu, and signed by its National Chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, CSNAC, which is a coalition of over 150 anti-corruption organisations, said the lawmaker should be prosecuted if the allegation is found to be true.

It also called for appropriate sanctions “to serve as a deterrent to other like-minded individuals.”

The petition reads:”The contracts, which are part of the National Assembly’s Zonal Intervention Projects (ZIP), otherwise known as “constituency projects,” were parts 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, on the platform of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), one of the legacy parties of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“Hon. Lasun, who represents Irepodun/Orolu/ Olorunda/Osogbo Federal Constituency, and who was then the Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Water Resources, had allegedly used his position to bid and win the contract without the knowledge of his colleagues.”

CSNAC said an investigation of the allegation will serve as deterrence to other public office holders who may want to toe the line in future.

“On the whole, in the face of the above allegations, we are of the view that if same is found to be true, the aforementioned action of the Deputy Speaker is in flagrant disregard of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers and the Public Procurement Act and as such appropriate sanctions and or prosecution should be made against him to serve as a deterrent to other like-minded individuals.”

Mr Yusuff is yet to comment on the allegations since publication of the story three weeks ago.

Source: Premium Times