Sanwo-Olu: I didn’t pay lawyers N50m from state funds

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has denied paying lawyers from the state’s coffers to defend the petitions filed against his re-election by his challengers in the March 18 governorship election in the state.

The governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in Lagos, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, had alleged that Sanwo-Olu funded his response in the election petition with the government’s money.

Rhodes-Vivour alleged that the governor paid four lawyers N50 million from the state’s coffers.

Responding, the Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, in a statement on Tuesday, said there was no truth in Rhodes-Vivour’s allegation.

Omotoso stated: “A post on ‘X’ by Labour Party (LP) candidate Mr. Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, on November 19, 2023, alleged – without any proof whatsoever – that the Lagos State Government funded Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s legal dispute after the March 18, 2023 election. This is not true.

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“The allegation was supported by a document that neither carried the logo of the Lagos State Government nor the endorsement of any of its officials. It was simply another ploy to deceive the public about a non-existent payment of N50,000,000 to four lawyers.

“While it is worthwhile for patriotic individuals to scrutinise the finances of the Lagos State Government, the outcome of such inquiry must always be based on verified facts and nothing but the truth.

“The transaction referenced by Mr. Rhodes-Vivour never took place. There was a payment request, which was not approved by Mr. Governor when the Honourable Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice drew his attention to it because it was irregular.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu will never misappropriate public funds in defiance of his Oath of Office.”

The Star