Pandora papers: Oyetola denies buying Tinubu’s London mansion

The Osun State governor, Adegboyega Oyetola has finally broken his silence over his alleged purchase of a controversial property raised by Pandora Papers.

The Governor denied buying the London mansion, where the National leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, received top politicians and high-profile personalities during his recent stay in the United Kingdom.

Oyetola, in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Ismail Omipidan, yesterday, also refuted links with Kola Aluko, the seller of the property, who is an associate of a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, indicted in the U.S. and Nigeria for multi-million-dollar and money laundering violation allegedly in collusion with Diezani.

The statement reads: “We have seen reports in some online media platforms concerning the PANDORA PAPERS’ allegations. This is, therefore, to set the record straight.

“Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola, Governor of Osun State, resigned his directorship of Aranda Overseas Corporation in 2011 when he took up the political appointment. He also surrendered his shareholding of the same company. 

Since 2011 till date, he has had no association, dealings and business transactions with the said company, as he is neither a director nor shareholder of the said company. 

“He, therefore, could not have acquired the said property in 2017, either directly or through the said company, as being alleged. 

“As a matter of fact, Oyetola has no relationship or link with the alleged owner of the property, Mr. Kolawole Aluko, let alone go into a business dealing or transaction with him.

“He also complied fully with the law of the land by exiting Global Investments Offshore Limited, as a Director in 2011, upon his appointment as the Chief of Staff.

“While we appreciate family members, friends, associates and well-wishers for their show of concern over the development, we assure them that there is nothing to worry about. Mr. Oyetola has always shown that he is a man who knows and respects the law in his corporate and political endeavours. The God that has brought us thus far will never forsake us.”