Tawa Williams, the project manager in the middle of the failed multi – million dollar water project in Osun State has alleged that members of the state house of assembly demanded a $5 million bribe from her.
Following his swearing in as the state Govenor, Ademola Adeleke suspended the project on the basis that nothing was on ground to show for the humungous amount paid for the project by his predecessor, Gboyega Oyetola ‘s governmnet.
Governor Adeleke also suspended Williams as the project co-ordinator for alleged shoddy handling of the $106million dollar loan for the Ilesa Water project, ordering her to return also the bullet proof car she received from the immediate past administration.
The state government, in a statement, said no progress on the project despite reported disbursement of N10billion and another $28million to the contractor.
Responding to the allegation on Thursday, William who spoke on a private television in the state disclosed that the assembly demanded the bribe from her through Nasiru Olateju, House Committtee Chairman on Water Resources.
the House Committee Chairman on Water Resources, Nasiru Olateju, demanded the $5million bribe on behalf of the Osun Assembly.
According to he, “The House is asking for five million dollars and I said I don’t have five million dollars to give to anybody. They asked for it for themselves. They are asking for a takeaway grant and they are saying that they will go to the press and say that the quality of work that we have done is not good.
“I told them that one year ago, you were on the site. You were commending us. Now, you will go back to the press and say we have not done well, what would be your reason?
“Yes. They demanded the bribe. I am saying it with all sense of responsibility. It did not come to the House as a whole. The Chairman of the House Committee on Water Supply and members of his committee called us to the meeting. They were saying that we didn’t give them money, and I was saying we do not have money to give to them. The money I have is to do the job.”
The assembly has denied the allegation.
