Aisha Achimugu’s birthday party: Sanwo-Olu must refund Lagos for spending billions on travel to Grenada  – Doherty 

Governorship candidate of the Africa Democratic Congress (ADC) in the 2023 Lagos governorship election, Funso Doherty, has demanded that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu refund the money expended on the trip to Grenada.

 

Sanwo-Olu had traveled to Grenada where he attended the 50th birthday party of Abuja based socialite, Aisha Achimugu.  

 

A report by Premium Times revealed Sanwo-Olu lodged in one of the most expensive hotels in the world where he paid $130,000 (more than N130 million) per night. He reportedly listed for six nights.  

 

Sanwo-Olu in a post on X after the report of his travel to Grenada became public knowledge, confirmed traveling to the Caribbean Island for a bilateral visit.  He also admitted attending social events after the bilateral talks. 

 

But the governor’s claim of visiting Grenada primarily for a bilateral engagement was faulted by Doherty, who also is a chartered accountant. 

 

Doherty wondered what Lagos stood to benefit from a bilateral engagement with a country whose GDP is just over $1 billion compared to Lagos with over $29 billion GDP. 

 

Doherty also pointed at the absurdity of the Lagos governor chasing trade engagement with Grenada which has a population of about 130,000 people in contrast to Lagos with over 20 million people. 

 

Doherty urged Sanwo-Olu to consider refunding Lagos the costs incurred on the trip to Grenada because the reason for the governor’s visit to the Island nation was unjustifiable. 

 

He said: “It is curious that out of 190 countries worldwide, Grenada, the country you attended social engagement, was the coincidental choice for bilateral engagement on behalf of the government and people of Lagos State. 

 

“Grenada is a distant nation with a small population of approximately 130,000 people with a national GDP of over $1 billion both of which are small fractions of Lagos GDP. Its economy is largely tourism based with little complimentary trade volume and potential with Lagos. 

 

“Mr Governor we will leave the judgment as to whether the visit to Grenada was a good use of your time. In the unfortunate event that this trip was funded by Lagos government, you should consider a refund to the purse of the state, as we do not consider this expenditure is justifiable in this circumstance.”