Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has started investigation into allegations of diversion of Osun State local council funds leveled against the state governor Rauf Aregbesola.
This is sequel to a petition by an Osun-based civil society group, Civil Societies Coalition for the Emancipation of Osun State {CSCEOS}.
The Ibadan Zonal Office of the anti-graft agency (EFCC) had invited the Chairman of the CSCEOS, Adeniyi Alimi Sulaiman, to appear before it on May 17, 2016 for further clarifications
The group, which had earlier sent a petition to President Muhammadu Buhari, accused the Aregbesola’s administration of diverting the federal allocation funds meant for the 30 local council areas, since November 2010 when the administration came on board.
The EFCC’s Invitation letter to Sulaiman, dated May 13, 2016, and titled: “Investigation Activities: Acknowledgement/Invitation Letter” signed by EFCC’s Zonal Head, Akaninyene Ezima, was released to the press yesterday.
The anti-graft agency in his response, said it has started investigations based on its petition.The group is seeking commencement of credible investigation and forensic audit of the account books of the 30 constitutionally- recognized local council areas.
Others to be joined in the investigation are, the then executive secretaries, heads of local Government Administration (HLAs) and directors of finance.
Others are former commissioner and permanent secretaries, ministry of local government and chieftaincy affairs.
Meanwhile, the Director, Bureau of Communications and Strategy, Office of the Governor, Semiu Okanlawon, said the governor was not surprised about the petition.
He said the petition was not only frivolous, but the characters behind it are not credible, because falsehood has been their stock in trade.
He said it is amusing that Sulaiman and his ‘’cohorts’’ have taken it upon themselves to criticise and condemn Aregbesola’s administration and policies to gain undue popularity and relevance.What is our business if the EFCC has invited Sulaiman for the frivolous petition, adding ‘they have done similar things in the past.”
