The Lagos State Signage and Advertising Agency (LASAA) has cleared one of its members, Olukayode John Adetifa, of fraud allegations that recently went viral on social media.
However, the agency confirmed that disciplinary action will still be taken against him for violating the organization’s “no cash” policy.
The incident began when a social media post accused Adetifa, attached to the LASAA branch in Alimosho, of fraudulently collecting N45,000 from MJ Beauty Salon, a customer, through her personal Opay account, while issuing an official receipt of only N7,100.
The post quickly gained traction online, prompting LASAA to release an official statement addressing the allegation.
In its statement, the agency said it immediately ordered Adetifa to report for investigation and disciplinary proceedings, emphasizing that all payments for signage and advertising services must be made strictly through designated government channels.
LASAA reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and accountability in all its dealings.
An investigative exercise by the LASAA disciplinary panel, which included a visit to the business owner, revealed that the situation was more nuanced than initially described.
According to Adetifa’s testimony, MJ Beauty Salon had several unregistered signs and was due for execution.
During his visit to encourage compliance, the customer was said to have offered to pay the outstanding fees.
When she complained of feeling unwell and unable to complete the online payment herself, she sought his help.
Adetifa admitted to helping her make the official payment using her personal account, raising N40,000 to cover the entire fees for three signs, including an application processing fee of N7,140, a permit fee of N28,880 and payment gateway charges.
He said he registered the signs online in the presence of the customer and assured him that he would receive an email confirmation.
The salon owner later confirmed his version of events to LASAA management, stating that he was not aware of the viral post and had no issues with Adetifa.
He apologized for the misunderstanding and distanced himself from the social media account that shared the false narrative.
While exonerating Adetifa of fraud, LASAA noted that its actions still violated internal policies.
“Although our staff did not have any fraudulent intent, they still committed a crime by collecting money from a client into their personal account, contrary to the Agency’s policy,” the management said.
The agency added that appropriate sanctions would be applied in accordance with the Public Service Rules once the disciplinary committee concludes its report.
LASAA used the occasion to remind Lagos residents to follow due process and avoid paying in cash or transferring funds to personal accounts under any circumstances.
He reiterated that all the agency’s processes are automated, transparent and self-service through its official website.
The agency also warned the public against spreading unverified information online, noting that such actions could undermine public trust and the reputation of government institutions.
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