Deputy speaker, House of reps, Suleiman Yusuf Lasun
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Lasun Yusuf ought to be prosecuted over the allegation of N1.1bn water contract rip-off, in keeping with the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).
SERAP famous this in a assertion on Sunday the place it investigating the allegation would go a great distance in exhibiting the federal government’s readiness to battle crime.
“Investigating the allegations and prosecuting all those suspected to be involved would indicate your agencies’ willingness to exert your authorities and act as a deterrent against breaches of the code of conduct provisions, Nigeria’s anti-corruption legislation and international standards,” the assertion learn.
It also stated that, “Public officers additionally should discharge their public duties honestly and faithfully, abide by the constitutional code of conduct, observe the primacy of public curiosity, and never enable their private curiosity to affect their official conduct.
“SERAP believes that somewhat than serving the frequent curiosity of the general public, the usage of the non-public and household firm–Nur and Company Nigeria restricted—to win over N1 bn water mission contract would appear to place Mr Yusuff in a battle of curiosity scenario.
“Conflict of curiosity represents a scenario the place the individual exercising a public operate equivalent to law-making duties has a private curiosity of patrimonial or business nature, which might affect the target fulfilment of the duties incumbent on public officers.
“The allegations of abuse of workplace and corruption have denied the communities affected the precise of entry to protected consuming water and sanitation, thereby exacerbating unequal entry to consuming water and sanitation for the folks of the constituency and Osun State normally.
“Such allegations additionally violate the International Covet on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which ensures the precise to an enough lifestyle together with the rights to water and sanitation. Nigeria has ratified the Covet.
“As acknowledged by studies, the Deputy Speaker allegedly used his private firm to win contracts amounting to about N1.1 bn from the Federal Government by the Ministry of Water Resources.
“Lasun, throughout his first time period within the House, used his private firm – Nur and Company Nigeria restricted, to bid and win two mini-water schemes in Osun State, as marketed on behalf of the ministry by the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority.