Oyetola’s ex-aide, APC chairmen deny mismanaging Osun’s funds, abusing due process

Be ready for probe, stop causing tension, cleric warns politicians accused of fraud
A former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in Osun State, Adebayo Adeleke, yesterday, denied mismanaging the state’s funds.

He said that he resigned as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of a company, The Ice Firms Nig. Ltd., a day after he got appointed as commissioner by former governor of the state, Gboyega Oyetola.

The state government had in a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) accused Oyetola of breaching due process in awarding contracts to the company and others.

According to the state government, the petition contained allegations of financial misconduct, money laundering, and brazen violations of the Public Procurement Act, 2007, all allegedly committed under the leadership of Oyetola as governor.

But reacting while addressing journalists in Osogbo, yesterday, Adeleke said he resigned as the Chairman/CEO of the company on October 25, 2019, a day after October 24, 2019, when he received his letter of appointment from Oyetola as the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

He said he never participated in any of the contracts the company got from Oyetola after his appointment, noting that the renovation of the PHCs that was carried out by his former company was painstakingly done.

He accused the governor and his team of witch-hunting him with the “frivolous allegations.”

Also speaking, Osun ALGON Chairman, Abiodun Idowu, denied alleged money laundering under his watch, saying that what he met on the ground was that awarded projects were executed by cash.

MEANWHILE, Spokesman of the World Bishops Council, Africa chapter, Bishop Seun Adeoye, has urged politicians in Osun State to embrace the path of peace and stop causing unnecessary tension among the citizenry.

Adeoye, in a statement in Osogbo, yesterday, regretted that a few weeks after the killings of six individuals over the unresolved Appeal Court judgment on local council administration, another issue that may affect the peace of the state has resurfaced.

The bishop, while reacting to accusations and counter-accusations over breach of due process, financial mismanagement and impropriety levelled against certain political leaders in the state, warned the parties against heating up the polity in the state, and advised them to make themselves available to be investigated by the anti-graft agency.