L-R: Mr. Hakeem Olaogun Dickson as Director General of Lagos State Safety Commission and other
before Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode at the Lagos House, Ikeja, on Monday, June 19, 2017
A Nigeria fugitive convicted of fraud in the United States identified as Hakeem Dickson, has on Monday, sworn into office as Director General of the Lagos State Safety Commission, by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.
According to an exclusive report by Premium Times, Dickson, who is an ally of the governor, was sworn in despite fleeing a 24-month jail term in the U.S. after being convicted for credit card fraud.
Judge Dickinson Debevoise of a U.S. District Court, said that Dickson has not served the sentence handed to him since June 1992. “For 20 years, Defendant (Mr. Dickson) successfully evaded all United States government efforts to locate and arrest him,” the judge said.
But Dickson had repeatedly claimed he had served 17 months out of the 24 in a Lagos prison after he was arrested by Nigerian security officials upon his return to the country in 1992, but a fact-check found the claim to be false.
Also sworn in were; Gabriel Babawale and Noah Olanrewaju Lawal-Jinadu as Commissioners of the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC); Bolaji Are, Iyabo Ladipo and Ayo Adebusoye for the Public Procurement Agency; and Jokotola Ojosipe-Ogundimu for Audit Service Commission.
Governor Ambode also swore in members of the state’s Public Procurement Agency, Audit Service Commission, Director-General of the State’s Safety Commission and also inaugurated members of the State Science and Innovation Council.
The spokesperson of the Lagos State House of Assembly Tunde Braimoh, had said last April, when the lawmakers confirmed Dickson’s appointment by the governor, that the House did not receive any petition or complaint against the nominee.
While he was swearing in Dickson and the others into office on Monday, Governor Ambode said their appointments were “strictly informed” by the track record of achievements, integrity and credibility of the members.
Noting that the ceremony was in compliance with the relevant laws establishing the agencies, the governor urged the members to see their appointment as an invitation and a privilege to be part of the future prosperity of the state.
“Your appointment is a call to public service and I am very confident that you will justify the trust the government has reposed in your ability and capacity to add value to the corporate governance, growth and development of the state,” Ambode said.
“Let me also add that your appointment is an invitation and a privilege to be part of history as we lay a solid foundation for the future of Lagos, a Lagos that our children and their children will enjoy for many years to come.”
source:tori news
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