Fashola fires LASAA Boss over Corruption, appoints new head

The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola ( SAN) has sacked the Managing Director of Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA), Makanjuola Alabi over alleged financial misappropriation and abuse of office by the agency’s helmsman while in office.

Fashola, who relieved him of his job immediately approved the appointment of Mr. Tunji Bello, the former Lagos State commissioner for environment as the new managing director of the agency.
In a statement signed by the Lagos State Head of Service, Mr. Adesegun Ogunlewe, made available to newsmen, the appointment of Bello is with immediate effect.

The plight of the former embattled LASAA boss started when a group operating under the platform of “Majekobaje Eko Integrity Group” petitioned the Lagos State House of Asssembly on fraud allegedly perpetrated by the sacked managing director.

The petition, which was signed by Olajide O.O. and Akanbi K, was read on the floor of the House by the Clerk of the House, Taiwo Olatunji alleging that the LASAA MD paid N1.2 million every two weeks as hotel expenses for one Miss Nike Adekanbi, his wife’s younger sister, whom he employed as a consultant on human resources.

The group in the same petition alleged that LASAA realized over N100 million from mobile advert in 2009 “but Alabi claims the agency did not realize any money. The receipts issued to companies that made payments are available and have been sent to the appropriate government agencies.

“Our investigation has also revealed that Mr. Alabi acquired two plots of land in Banana Island, in Ikoyi at the rate N300 million each, the survey of the plots was carried out by Lekan Osinibi and Bobby, his staff at Baruwa Architects, whose office is situated inside LASAA,
“In an attempt to falsify account records, Alabi has moved the audit unit to his office and no staff of the agency except his cohorts can go to the audit department in his office without his ,” the group alleged.

It was also alleged in the petition that in December 2008, the LASAA MD ordered the Accountant of the, Ajewole Kehinde Johnson, to envelope 3000 dollars and he alleged that it was for the members of the Assembly as special package.