…. Allegations Of Corruption Rock Sports Pavilion Project
An alleged N50 Million gift from the Central Bank Governor, CBN,
Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, has pitched members of the Hakeem Bello-Osagie’s
led King College Lagos Old Boys Association against themselves.
Many unsavoury allegations and counter-allegations are currently
being bandied about within the Association and aggrieved members are
gearing up for a show-down at the Association’s next AGM, scheduled to
hold this Sunday, September 23, 3012, at which many of them intend to
demand for an Independent Audit of the Association’s Finances.
We gathered exclusively from sources that members are at daggers
drawn over several issues relating to finances of the Association
amongst other issues, particularly the manner in which a N50 million
naira donation from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) courtesy of
Governor of the bank, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, towards the construction of a
sports pavilion in the Lagos Island secondary school was allegedly
misappropriated and siphoned using a shady contractor.
The donation was made around 2009 during the school’s centenary celebration.
Some members of the Association, which consists literally of “who is
who” in Nigeria’s socio-economic and political space, are angered by the
discovery that bulk of the N50 million naira donation from the CBN was
siphoned by some members of the past executive.
The sports pavilion project has since been abandoned after the
previous executive paid out the entire N50 million of which N43 million
was drawn from the Association’s bank account within a space of six
weeks.
“The level of corruption and misappropriation perpetrated in the
sports pavilion project is disheartening,” one Old Boy said. “The
project is not even near 20% completion. Where did all the money go?” he
asked.
“The issue of one of the VPs who collected money from a contractor
and claimed to spend it on the Association without documentation
subsists.& #8232;This VP (Mr. Lawanson) who admitted to collecting
the sum and spending same without documentation (minutes of the meeting
where this occurred is available at the Secretariat) and the present
treasurer (Mr. Idike who wants to be Gen. Secretary) colluded to make
these payments back then.
Furthermore, Mr. Idike cannot attest to any audit carried out in his
capacity as auditor (which would have discovered the fraudulent
disbursement of the said N50m…),” another aggrieved member blogged on a
website where members openly made claims and counter claims.
Sources said that members of the Port Harcourt branch of the
association alongside some other chapters have signaled their desire to
attend the AGM on Sunday where they would submit that all members of the
present executive step aside while an independent audit of the
association’s financial records are reconciled.
King’s College Lagos was founded on September 20, 1909. It was
previously known as King’s School. Some of its prominent alumni include
former Vice President Alex Ekwueme, Late Sir Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, Late
Chief Anthony Enahoro, Late Sir Adetokumbo Ademola, Late Justice Victor
Ovie Whiskey, and Mr. Peterside Atedo, amongst others. (pointblanknews)
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