Ladipo market leader denies N40m bribe allegation against Lagos Commissioner, Wahab

President of Ladipo Auto Central Executive Committee (LACEC), Mr Jude Chikere Nwankwo, has denied allegations that the Lagos State commissioner for Environment, Adetokunbo Wahab, had demanded N40 million from the traders to reopen the closed market.

He also said that the allegation of N40 million bribe against Wahab did not emanate from the traders, and that at no time did the commissioner demand any such amount from the traders.

Reports emerged earlier on Monday that the state government had approved the reopening of Ladipo, Oyingbo, and two other markets in the state after their managements perfected environmental and safety conditions in the facilities, which had been closed down due to environmental issues.

Other market also closed had included the Alamutu Plantain Market in Mushin and the Ilepo Market in the Abule Egba area of the state.

The state government had later approved the reopening of the markets including Ladipo, but later backtracked on the reopening of the Ladipo Market.

However, Nwankwo in a press release on Thursday said that Ladipo traders were law-abiding citizens and would not indulge in such a malicious bribe accusation.

According to the president of the market, the commissioner was not happy with the traders over some tweets making the rounds that he demanded the sum of N40 million from the traders.

READ ALSO: Lagos govt makes U-turn on reopening of Ladipo market

“I am the president of Ladpo Market, and I believe that I am the right channel to issue any statement pertaining to the market closure, therefore, such claim that the commissioner demanded N40 million from us is not true, we are law-abiding citizens and will never make such allegation against a serving commissioner of Lagos State.

“As the president of Ladipo Auto Market I am debunking that statement, as far as I am concerned the said allegation did not emanate from us.

“I am sure that the said allegation against the Commissioner for Environment did not emanate from Ladipo Market, but perhaps from mischief makers who want to cash in on the situation to tarnish our image before the government”.

He disclosed that the market is still closed and pleaded with the government of Lagos State to reopen the market. “As it is now the market is still under lock and key and, I am appealing to the commissioner to open the market as the traders who are bread winners to many families cannot access the market right now.”

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