The Ogun State government said on Saturday the invitation of its officials by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was not in connection with a petition allegedly filed by a former Chairman of Ijebu East Local Government, Wale Adedayo.
The commission on Tuesday questioned five officials of the Ogun State government at its zonal office in Ibadan, Oyo State.
There were insinuations that the officials were invited over a petition sent to the EFCC by Adedayo who was removed from office for alleged financial malfeasance in September 2023.
Adedayo in August last year alleged that Governor Dapo Abiodun diverted N10.8 billion allocated to the 20 local government areas in the state by the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC).
However, in a statement issued on Saturday in Abeokuta by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Governor, Kayode Akinmade, the government said the officials were not invited by the EFCC for alleged diversion of local government funds contrary to a claim by the media.
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The statement read: “Ordinarily, there would be no reason to respond to the antics of a known provocateur and rabble-rouser, who has made salacious, evidence-free allegations against Governor Dapo Abiodun and his administration, with the intent to sow discord among the people and destabilize Ogun State.
“While we continue to respect media organizations as partners in progress, we categorically state that the report in question is nothing but fake news and should be disregarded.
“As is the case with officials from other state governments, Ogun State officials are not exempt from invitations by anti-graft agencies if clarification on any matter is needed. It is reassuring that the EFCC confirmed our officials, as law-abiding citizens, honoured the invitation and have since returned to their duties.
“It is, however, a complete fabrication to claim that they were invited due to a petition by Wale Adedayo.
“It is, however, a complete fabrication to claim that they were invited due to a petition by Wale Adedayo, a chief propagandist who once accused his former boss, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, of being a serial killer, and who falsely claimed that his co-chairmen supported his petition against Governor Abiodun—a claim they have categorically denied.
“The media, as a cornerstone of society, should not assist rabble-rousers and morally bankrupt individuals in spreading falsehood.”
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