Lagos establishes agency to prosecute corrupt employees, contractors

By Gbenga Adedayo

Lagos state government has set up an anti-corruption agency to investigate government officials and contractors to curb public waste.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu signed a law creating the new body on Monday, several days after Lagos’ parliament approved the bill, a spokesman said in an emailed statement. The organization will be responsible for probing state government employees and contractors “for economic crimes and financial misappropriation” and prosecuting them in court if necessary, he said.

Lagos is the largest city in sub-Saharan Africa, hosting headquarters of most large international and domestic businesses present in Africa’s largest economy.

The agency will “complement” similar existing departments in the police and federal government, including the country’s main anti-graft organization, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the statement said.

-Bloomberg