Osun State Authorities and the All Progressives Congress, APC, have traded accusations over an alleged N300 million corruption scandal stated to contain a senior civil servant within the state.
The APC, in a press release signed by its Director of Media and Data, Kola Olabisi, on Friday, accused Governor Ademola Adeleke’s administration of protecting a feminine Everlasting Secretary allegedly concerned within the embezzlement of state funds.
Based on the opposition social gathering, some political functionaries within the state had taken benefit of what it described as administrative hollowness within the present authorities to loot public sources.
“We demand: what may have been the rationale for the Adeleke administration, which professes accountability and rule of legislation, to be shielding a feminine Everlasting Secretary who was caught to have embezzled over N300 million authorities fund?” The APC requested.
The social gathering alleged that the state authorities was managing the case in secret, claiming that there was a discreet association for the accused official to repay the cash quite than face prosecution.
“A authorities that claims to be above board wouldn’t make the corruption subject in opposition to the indicted Everlasting Secretary a discreet affair,” the assertion learn.
It additionally referred to as on the Financial and Monetary Crimes Fee, EFCC, and the Nigeria Police to wade into the matter, urging each businesses to make sure justice was served.
The APC additionally alleged that the implicated civil servant was the spouse of a serving commissioner in Adeleke’s cupboard.
Nevertheless, the Osun State Authorities swiftly refuted the allegations, describing them as “beer parlour gossip elevated to the extent of social gathering propaganda.”
In a press release issued by the Spokesperson to the Governor, Olawale Rasheed, the federal government stated there was no reality to any report of a N300 million scandal.
“There is no such thing as a Three Hundred Million naira rip-off or scandal in any Osun authorities company or ministry as Governor Ademola Adeleke is operating a clear authorities,” Rasheed said.
He accused the APC of producing falsehoods to divert consideration from its low acceptability amongst Osun individuals.
Based on him, the state operates a procurement system with strict oversight mechanisms, which makes such alleged corruption unattainable.
“Osun operates a procurement legislation with threshold approvals and due course of compliance. It’s unthinkable {that a} ministry official may deal with such big quantities of funds unilaterally,” he defined.
Rasheed additional emphasised that Governor Adeleke’s administration remained dedicated to transparency and accountability, warning that the federal government would possibly take authorized motion in opposition to the APC official behind the allegations.
“The allegations are libellous, unfounded and a figment of creativeness. There will probably be authorized penalties for these spreading falsehoods,” he cautioned.
He described Governor Adeleke as a clear and open governance chief who neither tolerates nor shields corruption.
“Governor Adeleke has by no means and can by no means tolerate corruption or defend any official if such misconduct ever exists,” he concluded.
