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Gov. Olagunsoye Oyinlola |
Eleven members of the House of Assembly in Osun State, South West Nigeria have petitioned the country’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC over an unsolicited crediting of N130 Million (about $1Million) into their individual accounts by the Olagunsoye Oyinlola administration in the State.
In a petition signed by all eleven members of the opposition Action Congress, AC lawmakers, raised red flag on the mysterious payment of N5 Million to each lawmakers private checking account.
Hon. Owoeye Timothy who signed he documents on behalf of ten other lawmakers alleged that fifteen other members of the House of Assembly are keeping mute on the fathom payment apparently made by the Executive functionaries of the State as a way of arbitrarily looting the resources of the State. Hon. Timothy said that regardless of the refusal of the non AC members to return the unbudgeted booty, he and the ten others identified as: Hon. Ajiboye Ademola, Ila, Hon. Oyedele Kamil Tope Irepodun/Orolu, Hon. Salaam Najeem F. Ejigbo, Binuyo Ipoola A. Ife North, Hon. Akintunde Adegboye, Osogbo, Hon. Fafowora Folarin, Ilesa West, Hon. Salensile R. Abayomi, Iwo, Hon. Awolola A. Abiodun, Egbedore, Hon. Fafiyebi Samson, Obokun, and Hon. Ajibola Olaide K. Olorunda all AC members have since made a refund of the money to the Wema Bank account of the State House of Assembly with Account Number 1002702788.
There has been no explanation as o the reason for the massive lodgments into the lawmakers account at the time there is an on-going debate to have capital projects for each of the 26 constituencies in the State.
The disclosure by Hon. Timothy and other members of AC is a big revelation on the regular practice of “settlement” syndrome in Nigerian politics.
One of the lawmakers who spoke with Pointblanknews.com under condition of anonymity alleged that Governor Oyinlola, a former Military Administrator of Lagos State is the mastermind of the “sharing initiative.” Below is the full text of the AC members petition to the EFCC.
Our Ref: AC/11/OSHA/08/02 Your Ref………..…..Date: April 26, 2008.
The Chairman
Economic And Financial Crimes Commission
4, Awolowo Road
Ikoyi
Lagos.
Dear Sir,
PETITION BY HONOURABLE ACTION CONGRESS
MEMBERS OF THE OSUN STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY
RE: ILLEGAL AND UNAUTHORISED LODGEMENT OF PUBLIC FUNDS IN THE PERSONAL ACCOUNTS OF INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS
OF THE OSUN STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY
We are the entire members of the Action Congress in the Osun State House of Assembly jointly agreed to forward this petition. Osun State House of Assembly will be referred to herein as ‘the House’.
Recently, there were deliberations in the House on the need to execute development projects in the various constituencies represented. The several parliamentary meetings in respect of these constituency projects were held openly and the deliberations had substantial input from all members of the House, irrespective of the political party represented. After the meetings, it was finally agreed by all members in the House that the project was indeed laudable, being for the benefit of the people.
It was further agreed and strictly so, that a dedicated consolidated account will be opened for equitable execution of the projects in compliance with due process requirements regarding public funds. This was also with a view to enhance accountability.
We were, therefore, most shocked when we, individually received credit alerts on or about the 9th of April, 2008, in the amount of N5Million from our respective individual banks. Upon investigation they found out the following facts:
1. N5Million was paid directly into the personal accounts of each member of the House;
2. this payment was not solicited for;
3. the payment was made directly from government funds without the observance of due process;
4. the payment into private accounts, of public funds meant for capital projects is illegal and a foundation for corrupt enrichment.
5. this corrupt practice seems to have been in existence since the inception of the present administration.
Upon these findings, we promptly took steps to dissociate our names from the obvious intention to steal public funds in the guise of financing capital projects in the constituencies.
Each of us (i.e. the Action Congress members of the House) promptly returned the amount of N5Million by directly paying this into the account of the Osun State House of Assembly, Account Number 1002702788, Wema Bank, Osogbo. We have attached herewith copies of individual Wema Bank deposit slips and cheques with which the payments were returned by each named Petitioner.
As at the date of this petition, we know as a fact that all other members of the House who received this illegal payment have not refunded same to the coffers of the House. No capital projects have been commenced in the constituencies of the remaining members, while the money remains in their personal accounts.
This is in direct proof of the fact that this dishonest payment was made solely for corrupt enrichment purposes. We, the undersigned wholly support the constituency capital development programme, but insist that this must be implemented and executed within the confines of applicable laws and regulations.
We have it on good authority that this practice (direct payment of public funds into personal accounts of honourable members of the House purportedly for the execution of Constituency capital development projects) has been on for several years now, under the present executive administration – to almost become standard practice. This is long before the present Action Congress members mentioned herein became part of the House.
Furthermore, we owe both the citizens of the state and our respective constituents a duty of care, in ensuring that the scarce economic resources and funds are not siphoned in such a brazen manner. Otherwise a few irresponsible individuals will enrich themselves while the general populace will remain impoverished.
It is with this in mind that we jointly present this petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and call for full investigations into the following:
1. Why the allocation of a budget for capital development and the subsequent fixing of N5Million did not pass through due process;
2. When the figure was agreed and on whose instructions/decision was the amount of N5Million credited directly into Honourable members’ personal accounts;
3. Why other members of the House have not refunded this obviously ill-gotten payment to the detriment of their constituents; as much as have neither;
4. Publication of the names of all remaining members yet to return the unjust payment of N5Million;
5. An exhaustive investigation into similar activities on the part of previous regimes in the House in collaboration with the executive arm of government under the first term of the present administration.
6. Allow the course and full effect of the law, including prescribed sanctions to apply to all individuals found to have deliberately subverted the noble cause of executing capital development projects and converting this to ‘personal enrichment/development projects’.
We are available and willing to provide additional information related to this petition in the course of investigation and beyond, if necessary and when called upon.
We, the petitioners have appended our signatures accordingly, and we are:
1. Hon. Owoeye Timothy Ilesa East -----------------------------
2. Hon. Ajiboye Ademola Ila -----------------------------
3. Hon. Oyedele Kamil Tope Irepodun/Orolu ---------------------------
4. Hon. Salaam Najeem F. Ejigbo -----------------------------
5. Hon. Binuyo Ipoola A. Ife North -----------------------------
6. Hon. Akintunde Adegboye Osogbo -----------------------------
7. Hon. Fafowora Folarin Ilesa West ----------------------------
8. Hon. Salensile R. Abayomi Iwo -----------------------------
9. Hon. Awolola A. Abiodun Egbedore -----------------------------
10. Hon. Fafiyebi Samson Obokun ------------------------------
11. Hon. Ajibola Olaide K. Olorunda ------------------------------
We appreciate your prompt response to this petition and thank you indeed.
For and on behalf of the Petitioners,
Hon. Owoeye Timothy