Lagos House Of Assembly Approves $16,000 For Members To Attend Nonexistent Award Ceremony For Indicted Speaker Ikuforiji In New York- SaharaReporters

Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, who is currently being tried on serious corruption charges at the hands of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), is billed in New York today to receive an award from the World Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Centers and Associations (WFUCA).

The award event, which listed Mr. Ikuforiji as the retired Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, also features the Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, as another recipient, among others.

But the event was held last month, March 2014, according to the organizers.

At its gala and award night, Mr. Ikuforiji received the "Builder of the Universe" award - Entrepreneur category"

The website of WFUCA states that the award ceremony took place between March 7 and 12. 


However, an undated document obtained by Saharareporters approving funds for members of the Lagos House of Assembly to attend the event shows that each of them will receive approximately three million Naira to attend the event.

The letter, signed by the Clerk of the House, G. O Abiru, stated that the event would take place today, April 3, 2014.

However a press statement issued by WFUCA National Director of Publications, Albert Gianatan shows that the event was successfully held in March.

Mr. Gianatan further confirmed to Saharareporters that the event had already passed and asked that we could obtain a guest lister from Nathaniel Erb.

While he could not immediately confirm that Mr. Ikuforiji's presence at the occasion, he said that a Nigerian delegation led by Dr. Sarah Jubril, President Jonathan's Special Adviser on Ethics and Values, was at the award night.

The press release listed Mr. Ikuforiji as one of the awardees at the event, but it did not state if he and his entourage were physically present.


 None of the photos released by the organizers showed either Mr. Ikuforiji or Governor Aregbesola at the event.

Mr. Ikuforiji and one of his aides, Oyebode Atoyebi, are facing a 54-count amended charge of money laundering amounting to over N600 million.

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