Lagos Assembly did not invite me – ex – Lagos
commissioner
Mr Olusegun Banjo , a former commissioner for
Economic Planning and Budget in the
immediate past administration in Lagos State ,
has said that no invitation was extended to him
from the State House of Assembly .
Banjo said in a statement on Friday that he was
ready to give an account of his stewardship as
a commissioner .
He said , “ I refer to page 9 of the Punch
Newspaper of October 11 , 2019 and other media
publications , on the threat of the Lagos State
House of Assembly to effect the arrest of the
former Governor and four former
commissioners that served with him .
“ This is on the ground that they refused to
honour the invitation of the House to appear
before its committee probing the purchase of
820 buses during the tenure of the
administration .
“ As the commissioner in charge of budget at
the time , this publication of the proceedings of
the State House of Assembly came as a surprise.
“ At no time was any invitation extended to me
to appear before any committee of the house , ”
he said .
Banjo said that though he was not expecting
any invitation as he was never part of the bus
purchase and implementation committee set up
by the former governor before his appointment
as a commissioner .
“ I would gladly have responded to any
invitation addressed to me by the House or any
anti – corruption group looking into the matter
or any matter concerning the period of my
service , ” the former commissioner said .
Banjo said that on seeing the publication , he
called the Clerk of the House, who informed
him that the invitation was sent to his former
ministry .
He said that he asked the clerk why no one
called to inform him before going to the press,
as their telephone numbers and email
addresses were in the public domain .
According to him , the clerk apologised and
requested for his residential address , which he
sent to him immediately.
“ I wish to correct the insinuation in the
publications that I deliberately avoided the
House of Assembly .
Powered by RubiQub “ I also want to state my readiness to appear
before any of its committees , as this is the least
required of me as a citizen of Lagos State and
someone who has occupied public position in
the past.
“ I agree completely with the stance of the
House for probity and accountability for those
that held public offices in all arms of
government , ” he said .
The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that the
Lagos State House of Assembly on Thursday
threatened to issue a warrant of arrest on
former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and four
others who served under the ex – governor as
commissioners .
( NAN )
