The Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA) has summoned the officer in charge of the agency at Isolo Local Council Development Area (LCDA) for questioning and possible disciplinary action after a BusinessDay’s undercover story exposed how the agency’s rates and fees were paid into the officer’s private account.
In an undercover investigative story, BusinessDay, last Thursday, exposed how LASAA rates and fees were paid into the Zenith Bank account of Assumpta Omozejele rather than the agency’s, as well as how the officers of the agency in Isolo LCDA collected cash contrary to what the agency stated on its website.
In a statement signed by Temitope Akande, acting general for corporate affairs, the agency said it was saddened by the incident and would leave no stone unturned in unravelling more truths about the illegal transactions.
“The attention of our Agency has been drawn to the BUSINESSDAY front-page story titled ‘How Lagos’ revenue goes into private pockets’. The report detailed how, through an undercover exercise to the local government offices, one of our staff was caught receiving official payments of the Agency into her private bank account,” the statement said.
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“This report is coming despite our Agency’s stance against issuing and collection of payments in cash. Our Agency is saddened by this incident because we have warned against such acts across our communication channels and platforms,” it said.
The agency said it had consequently set the necessary machinery in motion to investigate “this illegal activity and all those involved”.
“The culprit has been summoned for proper questioning and disciplinary procedure. The public should be rest assured that no stone would be left unturned in unravelling these illegal acts,” it said.
LASSA reiterated that the agency does not collect cash payments for any reason, but directed all payments to the official account.
“Members especially of the public must desist from offering our staff and official cash payment. Our Agency operates a no-cash policy. We wish to assure members of the public that the Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA) remains committed to discipline transparency and accountability in its operations,” it said in the statement.
