The Lagos State House of Assembly on Thursday asked the Clerk of the House, Mr. Azeez Sanni to invite the immediate past governor of the state, Akinwunmi Ambode over  820 buses purchased during his administration.

The Speaker of the House, Mudashiru Obasa who issued the order also directed that former government officials involved in the project  be invited to answer questions relating to the purchase of the vehicles.

Obasa issued the directive while speaking during plenary after two ad hoc committees set up to investigate the purchase of 820 buses during the Ambode administration and appraise the 2019 mid-year budget delivered their reports.

The Speaker warned that if any of them refused to honour the invitation of the House, the Assembly would be left with no other option but to do newspaper adverts, after which it would issue warrants for their arrest.

The Chairman of the nine-man Committee probing the purchase of the buses, Fatai Mojeed stated that out of the 20 officials who were summoned by the committee, four failed to appear.

Mojeed identified them as the former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Kazeem Adeniji, ex-Commissioner for Budget, Mr. Olusegun Banjo, ex-Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Akinyemi Ashade and former Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Mr. Wale Oluwo.

Reacting to the reports, some members of the Assembly suggested that warrants should be issued for the arrest of the former governor and the ex-commissioners.

The member representing Alimosho Constituency 1, Bisi Yusuf said the House had constitutional powers to issue such warrants.

However, the member representing Badagry Constituency 1, Ibrahim Layode advised the House that invitation should be extended to Ambode and the former Commissioners through newspaper adverts.

“The clerk should write them, including the ex-governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode and if they refuse, we will do newspaper publications and after that we will issue warrants of arrest,” Obasa submitted.