Relying on the Freedom of Information Act, 2011, an Ogun State indigene, Mr. Adetilewa Adetomiwa, has given the Governor Dapo Abiodun administration a seven-day ultimatum to disclose detailed information about the concession of Ijebu-Ode-Epe Expressway or legal proceedings would be initiated against the state government.
Adetomiwa, in two separate letters signed by his lawyer, Inibehe Effiong Esq., sought to know the detailed information about the concession and subsequently applied for a copy of the 2020 Ogun State Budget to know budgetary provisions, if any, for the road.
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It would be recalled that Abiodun had earlier this year flagged off the construction of the 14-kilometre Ijebu-Ode-Ikoto to Epe in Lagos State.
The road was awarded to Craneburg Construction by the Abiodun administration under a public-private partnership arrangement – Build, Operate and Transfer programme, with an inclusion of toll plazas indicating that tolls would be collected for the maintenance of the road.
“We are Solicitors and Counsel to Mr. Adetilewa Adetomiwa, an indigene
of Ogun State whose address is GRA Ijebu-Ode (hereinafter referred to as
“Our Client”).
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“Our Client is a good governance advocate and a human rights activist on whose behalf and instructions we write to you.
“Pursuant to Section 1 of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011, we hereby apply for a detailed information and records on the concession of Ijebu-Ode-Epe Expressway.
“TAKE NOTICE that if you fail, refuse or neglect to furnish us with the said
information and records as requested by Our Client within Seven (7) days of
receipt of this application, we have the instructions of Our Client to
commence legal proceedings against you to compel you to comply,” read Adetomiwa’s letter to Ogun State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure was dated September 17, 2020.
His second letter to Ogun State Commissioner for Budget and Planning dated September 17, 2020 read thus: “We are Solicitors to Mr. Adetilewa Adetomiwa, an indigene of Ogun State whose address is GRA Ijebu-Ode (hereinafter referred to as “Our Client”) on whose behalf and instructions we write to you.
“Our Client is a good governance advocate and a human rights activist.
“Pursuant to Section 1 of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011, we hereby apply for a copy of the 2020 Ogun State Budget.
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“TAKE NOTICE that if you fail, refuse or neglect to furnish us with the said 2020 Budget as requested by Our Client within Seven (7) days of receipt of this application, we have the instructions of Our Client to commence legal
proceedings against you to compel you to comply.”
The construction of Ijebu-Ode-Epe Expressway, which had since commenced, would be a dual-carriage road with 10 lanes – four lanes on each side with one pull-out section, while the toll plaza consists of 14 lanes for easy payment of tolls.
Abiodun, while speaking at the flag-off, had said the construction, which was meant to connect Epe-Ajah-Victoria Island in Lagos State, would provide a perfect alternative to ever busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
Meanwhile, in a chat with Echotitbits, Mr. Adetilewa Adetomiwa reiterated that he was prompted to take this action based on some unconfirmed rumors of contract inflation trailing the concession which says the cost of the road is 3.6B per KM.
Idowu Sowunmi
