Ogun spends N1.5b on Daniel’s 50th birthday, foreign trips 21/2/09

By our reporter

THE Ogun State government has been accused of spending over N1.5b on the 50th birthday celebration of the state governor,Otunba Gbenga Daniel, foreign trips and what has been described as “maintenance of law and order” between 2004 and 2006.
A petition sent to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Crimes Commission (ICPC) and the Inspector General of Police has alleged large scale spending spree in the state.
According to the petition, Daniel and his wife, Yeye Olufunke, embarked on 49 and 31 foreign trips respectively at a cost of N450 million.
The petitioner also alleged that the state spent N487,968,745 during the governor’s 50th birthday celebrations.
Giving a breakdown, the petitioner said the sum of N15,202,560 was spent in paying for the celebration, another N1,200,000 on production of personal memoir with cheque no 00000695 drawn in favour of a new generation bank, another cheque of N7,242,560 from the same bank.
The petitioner reveals further that a cheque of N1.5m in respect of the birthday was also issued. The money was withdrawn from a first generation bank. The cheque number was given as 41640863.
Also in preparation for a get-together for the birthday, N5,260,000 was issued in respect of the same first generation bank, the petitioner alleged.
In 2005, during the governor’s 49

thbirthday celebration, it was alleged that two separate cheques were issued for the lecture delivered on that day. The amounts, N1,550,000 and N807,400 were withdrawn from the defunct Bond bank.


The governor was further accused of spending N281m on what the petitioner described as "maintenance of law and order."

In the petition, it was alleged that N23m was spent in combating cultism under such titles as "curbing violence in Ogun State".

"Government claims that it spent an average of N1, on "Anti-Violence Committee" on campuses every month while cash position as at May 21, 2004 recorded that N1.5m was spent," the petition equally alleged.

But this was contrary to the actual as records showed that N300,000 was paid to the committee for the month of August 2004 while N1m was recorded as having been spent on eradication of cultism. Another sum of N7.4m "was recorded to have been dolled out to Youth leaders in Ogun State," the petitioner alleged.

The sum of N303m was also spent as risk allowance, according to the petition. The breakdown is as follows: a cheque of N5m (N5,095,455) in favour of the Secretary to the State Government on July 2, 2006. It was drawn on a new generation bank, on July 17, 2006, N5m while N8.8m was also drawn in September 2004.

"Still under the cover of Special Security Vote," the state spent N90m. The amount was withdrawn through a cheque issued in favour of a first generation bank.

Since 2004, about N173m was allegedly dolled out to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) women on a quarterly basis, it was further alleged.

The breakdown: the governor released N2,490,000 in the third quarter (as at July 2, 2004) but this increased to N4,190,000 on May 13, 2005. It was drawn on another new generation bank cheque.

The state government-owned hotel, Gateway Hotel was also a beneficiary as it received a total of N280, 652,000. In November, 2003, a first tranche of N3,500,000 was paid for outstanding bills while the debt rose to N15m by April 2004. Between April and May 2005, the hotel further received the sum of N10,797,013.

Another cheque of N30m was equally issued to the hotel in two instalments. They were all debts owed the hotel.

"The government is claiming to still owe the hotel an outstanding of N45,000,000, the petitioner alleges.

The petition further reveals that a catering outfit in the state was also a beneficiary of the government’s largesse.

Between May 2004, and March 2006, the outfit received N7m, N5,131,252 and N1.5m, respectively from the government.

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Tears tears tears

I don't understand why we spend time writing "petitions". If there is a single proof he used public money for personal game, let us quit mocking and clowning around. Let be books be thrown at him and let the due process of law take place.

It is a waste of time with this petitions if they have no conclusive proof what so ever. Nigerian press needs to learn the basis of journalism before they keep reporting things in this manner. So far the name of people involved have been dragged through mud, even though there isn't a proof.