By Akinwale Kasali
The speculations that the new Lagos Anti-Graft law recently assented to by Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu allegedly is aimed at favouring the All Progressives Congress, APC, National Leader, and former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Lagos State Government says it far from the truth.
Mixed reactions had greeted the new anti graft law, as many queried the motive behind the law.
Many people allege that the law was established to give an easy passage for Tinubu, to exonerate him of any financial and corruption allegations, so as to have an easy sail towards his 2023 Presidential Ambition.
But the Lagos state Government has said the newly promulgated anti-corruption law is not in anyway meant to shield Tinubu, or anyone for that matter, from prosecution.
Sanwo-Olu assented to a bill establishing an anti-corruption agency with sole rights to probe cases of corruption that have to do with the state.
This new agency will take over cases relating to Lagos from Federal Government-controlled anti-graft agencies like the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
Gbenga Omotosho, Lagos Commissioner for Information, speaking on ARISE TV said the Sanwo-Olu-led administration is not seeking to protect any personality with the anti-graft law it recently signed.
Omotosho said the law is to enforce accountability and transparency on anyone dealing with the state’s funds.
He noted that insinuations that the law was aimed at protecting Tinubu or anyone was conjectural and presumptuous.
“The idea that the law is to protect either Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu or anybody is highly speculative, presumptuous and in the conjectural imagination of anybody thinking so. It’s out of place for anybody to think that a law will be made because of a section of the society or some personalities,” the commissioner said.
“That’s not the aim of the law. Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the governor, said very clearly when he signed the law that he signed it for accountability so that people won’t misappropriate the state’s funds and get away with it.
“Why is it that people are talking about some personalities when you talk about corruption, they are not even talking about contractors who may go away with the state’s money without doing any job. There are many people who are supposed to be reined in through this law, not just some people.”
Tinubu has a number of petitions against him before the EFCC.
