Lagos Okada Chair accused of stealing 590 million association’s fund
By Akeem Yisa
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) has been asked to probe the boss of ANACOMA MOTORCYCLE OWNERS AND RIDERS ASSOCIATION Alhaji Muhamed Musa for the missing association’s funds said to be in the tune of N590,802,000 (Five hundred and Ninety million, eight hundred and two thousand naira only.
Irohinoodua was reliably informed that the funds are kept in the bank owned and manipulated by the Executives of ANACOMA controlled by Alhaji Muhammed Musa, who is also the Chairman of the Lagos State Branch of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria. The ANACOMA is affiliated to the RTEAN. The association’s focal point is promoting understanding and cooperation amongst its members and also to pursue vigorously the enhancement of the course of humanity, particularly unity and peace amongst its members and also to encourage behavioral standards within members of the association.
The money is said to belong to the over 1million Okada riders in Lagos representing daily deductions for about one year. The money also represents funds raised from selling tickets, identity cards, membership forms, protective helmets, caution signs and reflective jackets to members of the association in Lagos.
“We are like people kept in concentration camps. Our resources are locked up in the hands of few individuals led by Alhaji Musa. He makes about 30 million everyday from all Okada riders in Lagos. This money is more or less private money. No one asks questions. The members are largely illiterate and do not ask questions. It’s such a terrible camp of oppression”, a vocal member of ANACOMA, John Ateh who is a University graduate told Irohinoodua this morning. He said officials of Lagos State government are culpable saying that half of the money goes to corrupt officials in the state. He said there are over 1million Okada riders in Lagos and that the number has increased since the crisis in the Middle Belt and the Far East compounded by the banning of Okada in the cities of the South East and the North, forcing many to relocate to Lagos and the South West states.
In a petition written to the EFCC and obtained by Irohinoodua, Allens Agbaka said the RTEAN officials have refused to account for the millions of funds collected from ANACOMA members in Lagos State. Agbaka wrote “These men rather than render account, have been seriously threatening, while still incubating and hatching out several devilish means to completely take over the management of our clients association because of the huge sum of money involved.”