There is so much drama surrounding former governor of Lagos state, Babatunde Fashola’s alleged N78 million personal website.

Lots of news have been flying around on this issue, when a firm, BudgIT, disclosed that Fashola spent N78 million to upgrade the website.

An accusation that has been causing uproar, with Fashola being dragged to EFCC over the issue.

A firm , Info Access Plus Limited, later released a statement that they were awarded the contract and the said amount was N10 million and not N78 million.

The firm gave a breakdown of funds and stated that the website wasn’t his personal website but official site.

Even after this, a coalition of anti-corruption organisations in Nigeria, the Civil Society Network Against Corruption petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe Fashola alleged N78 million.

But with all this happening, it doesn’t look like it has simmered down as Fashola on August 13 finally responded to the allegation that he approved a contract worth N78 million for the upgrade of his personal website.

Fashola admitted that indeed a contract valued at that amount was awarded, but it involves the provision of other services beyond the upgrade of the website.

BudgIT, the firm that disclosed the N78 million contract by Fashola are alleging that they are being threatened.

The lead partner of BudgIT, Oluseun Onigbinde, said that since the website story broke, ‘our motives have been questioned, our support from trusted partners queried, accusations made against our staff – and now we have received new information about threats.

Although they didnt disclose those responsible for the threats or who is/are issuing the threats, they however on Tuesday in a statement said it was disheartened that in a democracy, threats are being made over the mere fact that a civic organisation highlighted public finance data to none other than the public.

We reiterate that the information was, and (at the timing of this statement), still is on the website, and therefore in the public domain, and therefore legally open to scrutiny by BudgIT.

http://www.lagosppa.gov.ng/awarded-contracts/details-contracts-award-2014. We have made no accusations, neither have we published any (secret) document or violated any government rules.

We are at a loss as to why these threats should be made, as our actions were motivated by nothing more than our role as an institution respected for data-driven advocacy for accountability, transparency and openness in the management of public funds in Nigeria.

We state once more that we have no political interest as we don’t take funds or seek untoward favours from government officials or politicians. Our relationship with government institutions has always been on intersecting civic engagement with institutional reform and this is mainly funded by international donor support. We also want to state that we are not interested in any timing as regards the motives of this as we have only highlighted a public document published on May 13, 2015. We advise other Nigerians to interrogate the document and ask questions as responsible tax-paying citizens.

Should anything happen to any member of our staff or persons affiliated with BudgIT in Lagos and our focal States of operation.

The most effective way is to allow a democracy operate as a democracy; and allow past and serving public officials remain beholden to the people they swore to serve.

The labours of our heroes past, who died that this democracy may come to pass shall never be in vain. The dreams of the ordinary Nigerians who died at the polls, who die every day because of corruption, insecurity and waste motivates us and necessitates us to reiterate: WE refuse to be intimidated.

Those motive for threat or who is responsible for the threat is largely unknown.