Assembly summons Sanwo-Olu’s CoS, others over security helicopters

By Oziegbe Okoeki

Lagos State House of Assembly has summoned the Chief of Staff (CoS) to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Mr. Tayo Ayinde, Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget Mr. Sam Egube, Commissioner for Special Duties Mr. Tayo Bamgbose-Martins and management of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF) over the whereabouts of three helicopters belonging to the government.

Raising the issue under Matter of Urgent Public Importance during plenary yesterday, Chief Whip Mojisola Miranda said the offices and MDAs in-charge of the helicopters should be written, adding that the Assembly should know the agreement between the government and Caverton Helicopters that is managing the helicopters.

“If you may recall, in 2007, the Assembly passed a bill for the establishment of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF) for the government to equip and strengthen security agencies. “In 2015, three helicopters were bought under former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to strengthen security. But the helicopters are nowhere to be found now.

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“I want us to look at it and get the concerned parties to tell the House the location of the helicopters, to see if they are just lying fallow or if the state government has entered into an agreement with an entity on the equipment and see to what extent the agreement has been working,” she said.

Speaker Mudashiru Obasa said the helicopters were meant for dual purposes, noting that they were meant to be used for security and commercial purposes.

He said the House should try to know what had accrued to the state from the helicopters, adding: “This is the first time the Assembly will be talking about the equipment.”

Rotimi Olowo (Shomolu 1) said the House approved the purchase of two helicopters during the era of former governor Babatunde Raji Fashola.

He added that one helicopter was bought under former governor Ambode, making them three, and that it was important to know how they had been managed so far and where the money was.

Other lawmakers agreed on the need to look into the matter.