The project consultant for the World Bank Assisted water project in Ilesa Osun State, Engr Tawa Williams, has alleged that members of the House of Assembly in the state demanded a kickback of $5m from her from the project funds.
Speaking on a television programme, Williams named the member who demanded the bribe on behalf of his colleagues as Hon. Nasiru Olateju. “The House is asking for five million dollars and I said I don’t have five million dollars to give to anybody. They asked for it for themselves. They are asking for takeaway grant and they are saying that they will go to the press and say that the quality of work that we have done is not good.”
NPO Reported on Wednesday that Governor Ademola Adeleke had suspended Williams and ordered a stoppage of work pending the determination of the state of finances of the project. She said “I told them that one year ago, you were on the site. You were commending us. Now, you will go back to the press and say we have not done well, what would be your reason?
“Yes. They demanded the bribe. I am saying it from all sense of responsibility. It did not come from the house as a whole. The Chairman of the House Committee on Water Supply and members of his committee called us to the meeting. They were saying that we didn’t give them money, and I was saying we do not have money to give to them. The money I have is to do the job.”
The project had started under the Rauf Aregbesola administration when the then governor secured the N48.7bn facility for the construction of the Ilesa water supply and sanitation project. The project with 60,000 cubic meterS when completed in 24 months would supply water to residents of Ilesa and its environs on a daily basis.Speaking at the ceremony, Aregbesola, on inauguration day, had noted that the project, which would gulp N48.7 billion when completed, was the largest single project in the Western region.
Aregbesola, who recalled that he had approached the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) for assistance on the project in 2011, expressed delight that the project was becoming a reality.He explained that the project, which will be completed in December 2019, was funded by the World Bank, IDB and the Federal Government, adding: “I am happy this is happening today, because the state has been on it for a long time.
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“This journey started as far back as 2011when I went to the IDB for financial assistance on the project and I am happy it is a reality today.“I am proud to say that this water project is the largest singular project in the whole of western region, the project when fully completed would have gulped a total of N48.7billion. When completed, it will supply at least 60 million litres of water per day.”
The project had dragged on after the exit of the governor.