THE Osun state commissioner for information and public enlightenment, Hon Kolapo Alimi, has demanded for a Public Retraction and apology from the former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs under Oyetola, Mr Adebayo Adeleke, BANIK over allegation of N3.7 billion fraud leveled against his humble self.
The Former Governor’s aide claimed that Hon. Alimi during his tenure as the State Commissioner of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs under the administration of former Governor Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola engaged in corruption.
Alimi responded to the corruption allegation during a Media chat with the Osun Online Publishers Association, OOPA, in his office at Abere, Osogbo on Wednesday, March 12, said, he has never been a signatory to any Local Government accounts during his regime.
Alimi added that Local Government joint account is not under the Commissioner but Director General of Finance.
Voice Air Media recalls that Mr Adebayo Adeleke popularly known as Banik accused Alimi of overseeing suspicious cash withdrawals, including; ₦600 million withdrawn in a single day through multiple ₦10 million transactions, ₦70 million withdrawn in one day by a former ALGON Secretary, who now serves as a Special Adviser to Governor Ademola Adeleke, multiple withdrawals allegedly totaling over ₦100 million in one day, with claims that funds were siphoned through different names.
The commissioner for Information, Hon. Alimi, stated; “If ALGON Chairman spent ALGON money how is that my concern. They would hear from my lawyer very soon to explain how money meant for ALGON becomes my problem.”
“First and foremost, the allegations against Adeleke by Osun state government sent to the EFCC are true. This is not tit for tat. If they believe there is a case against me, they should file a petition before the EFCC instead of making noise in the media, they should write their own petition If they have anything against me.”
Alimi affirmed that if Adeleke and Jamiu Olawumi who spread the lies, failed to retract the statements and tender public apology, he would seek legal redress over the matter to clear his name they are trying to smear in order to divert public attention from the real issue of misappropriation of $20m grant for health that is hanging on their neck.
Alimi further warned that if Banik refused to apologize and retract his “malicious and defamatory statement” he will go to court to claim damages.
Recalled that the State government under Governor Ademola Adeleke through the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, alleged that over N1.5 billion was mismanaged by the administration of Oyetola in the local government with some of his aides.
Alimi further alleged that a company owned by Prince Adeleke Adulyekini Adebayo (Banik) who served as Local Government Commissioner under Oyetola, took renovation of primary healthcare centres while the State Chairman of Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Hon. Abiodun Idowu, was also involved in money laundering using one Akeem Ibitoye, the current Director of Finance in Ejigbo Local Government.
“This was how the former governor squandered and misappropriated the Twenty Million dollars ($20,000,000.00) health intervention funds given to the state by the World Bank which sum would have gone a long way to address various medical needs in the state.
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“In the cause of this assignment as well, the committee stumbled on some financial records which clearly show a clear case of money laundering of huge magnitude by the past administration of Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola.
“This mind bungling money laundering was discovered in the account of ALGON and this involved the Chairman of the ALGON, Hon. Abiodun Idowu, ALGON secretary, Hon. Olubisi Oladousu, the remaining 28 Local Government Caretaker Committee Chairmen and the area council, the former Commissioner for local Government and Chieftaincy affairs, Hon Yekeen Adebayo Adeleke (Banik), with the approval, concurrence and supervision of the former Governor, Alhaji Isiaka Gboyega Oyetola to the tune of above N1, 500,000, 000.00 into the private account of one Akeem Ibitoye, a Local Government employee and the Director of Finance, Ejigbo Local Government between January 2022 to October, 2022,” the petition reads.
Ibitoye withdrew N110 million Naira cash in day in the bank Statement of Account shown to the Online Media Publishers on Wednesday, this is one among others sent to the EFCC for scrutiny.
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