Tag: Ademola Adeleke

Gov. Ademola Adeleke of Osun has approved the immediate suspension of the Provost, Ila Oragun College of Education, Dr Jimoh Afolabi, over alleged financial impropriety.

Adeleke, in a statement by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, on Friday in Osogbo, said that the suspension of the provost followed the interim report of an Investigative Panel, headed by his Chief of Staff, Mr Kazeem Akinleye.

“For  the Provost, the Committee reviewed three previous reports of investigations into various allegations of financial malfeasance, abuse of power and corruption leveled against him dating from past administrations to date.

“The committee after a thorough review of the reports including that of the State House of Assembly alongside its own investigation, recommended immediate suspension of the Provost.

“Sequel to the findings of the investigative panel, the provost  is hereby suspended on the grounds of financial impropriety, concealment of official information/ records; and failure to update the Governing Council on the important issues of the college,” the governor said.

The governor had on Jan. 9 set up a three-man committee to probe alleged misappropriation of N200 million at the state-owned College of Education, Ila-Orangun.

The Provost of the college  and the Chairman of its Governing Council, Dr Peter Babalola, had been trading accusations over the alleged mismanagement of the N200 million belonging to the college.

The statement, however, said that the governor also approved the recommendation of the committee that the Chairman of the Governing Council,  Babalola should remain in office as there was no proven case of abuse of power or financial wrongdoings against him.

It said  the allegation of over N200 million  fraud  leveled against the council chairman could not be substantiated with documentary proof or transaction details.

The statement said the cash advance of  N3 million to the Council chairman was found to be within the college’s financial regulations with all documentations verified by the committee.

“Based on thorough review,  the committee discovered that  the allegation of N200m fraud leveled against the Chairman of the Governing Council is untrue, diversionary, baseless and fallacious.

“Documentary evidence (voucher) revealed that he only  collected the  sum of N3 million as cash advance, which is officially allowed.

“The Committee is billed to submit its final report at a later date”, it said.

Meanwhile, the governor has approved the appointment of Dr Jimoh Ayanda as the acting provost of the college.

The governor, in another statement by Rasheed, said Ayanda’s appointment was sequel to the suspension of Afolabi as the provost of the college.

“Dr Jimoh Lasisi Ayanda holds the following qualifications;  National Certificate of Education (English/Islamic Studies (Ila-Orangun, 1990); Bachelor of  Arts (Islamic Studies, University of Ilorin, 1996).

“Also Masters of Arts, University of Ilorin, 2004) and Ph.D, Islamic Studies( University of Ilorin, 2016)

“The acting Provost has spent a cumulative 22 years as a lecturer at the college”, it said.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun has opposed the white paper released by the state government which sacked two traditional rulers.

Addressing a news conference on Monday in Osogbo, the APC chairman in the state, Tajudeen Lawal, urged Adeleke to save the state from impending mayhem by reverting to the status quo.

Lawal also called on President Tinubu and the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun, to intervene in the brewing situation in the state.

Lawal said that on assumption of office on Nov. 22, Gov. Adeleke ordered the suspension of Aree of Iree, Akinrun of Ikirun, Owa of Igbajo and Alawo of Awo.

He said that following the suspension of the aforementioned traditional rulers, the stools  became subjects of court litigations, in which the governor and the state  government  were defendants.

The chairman said that the governor later cleared the Alawo of Awo to function as Oba pending the determination of the lawsuit in respect of the stool.

He said that Adeleke, however, maliciously nullified the processes that produced the Aree of Iree and Owa of Igbajo and ordered for a fresh nomination exercise

He said the  governor also declared the Akinrun of Ikirun stool vacant pending the outcome of the court case.

“The decision of Gov Adeleke to single out some traditional rulers for punishment on mere presumption that they are political adversaries is petty, divisive and ungodly.

“No genuine leader engages in such a destructive tactics to govern his subjects.

“The reactions of the indigenes of the affected towns leave much to be desired and if not well managed could cause a monumental break-down of law and order.

“We use this medium to call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Inspector-General of Police to intervene in the brewing situation in the state” he said.

Also, Lawal  said that the closure of the courts in the state in the last three months due to indefinite strike by alleged ” partisan judiciary workers” was strange.

“The implication of this unholy closure of the courts is that the citizenry are now resorting to self-help since the courts are not sitting and available for them to ventilate their anger.

“The other negative effect of the non-sitting of the courts is that the police cells are now over-crowded since suspected criminals in their custody can not be arraigned in courts”, he said.

Lawal also alleged that  members of the APC were also being harassed by the state government in order to silence them.

He said the governor had also secretly set up a taskforce to forcefully retrieve some vehicles duly approved for past government functionaries so as to provoke “our law-abiding citizens, injure them and precipitate violence in the state”.

The State government on Thursday nullified the selection of Mr Gboyega Famodun, a former APC Chairman, as the traditional ruler of Igbajo in Boluwaduro Local Government Area of the state.

The government also nullified the selection of Mr Raphael Ademola of Iree town in Boripe Local Government area of the state.

It also declared the Akirun stool in Ifelodun Local Government area vacant, pending the outcome of the case before the Court of Appeal.

A statement by  Mr Kolapo Alimi, the Commissioner  for Information and Public Enlightenment, said the decision was contained in  the white paper report submitted by the committee set up by Gov. Ademola Adeleke,  on Chieftaincy matters.

According to the statement,  government has also directed the setting up of a task force for the recovery of government vehicles allegedly carted away by officials that served ex- Gov. Gboyega Oyetola.

However, Mr Olawale Rasheed, the spokesperson to Adeleke,  said the governor complied with due process, rule of law and the tradition of the various affected towns in the recently released white paper.

“The white paper did not impose any oba like the previous government did.

“The state government has only ordered compliance with due process without barring any eligible candidate from seeking the royal stool.

“The credibility of the white paper is confirmed by the messages of commendations, appreciation and encomiums that have been reaching the governor since the release of the white paper.

“The affected towns are also at peace. Kindly ignore those anti-people elements who seek to retain the illegality of yesteryears”, he said.

Gov. Ademola Adeleke of Osun has read riot act to his cabinet members on service delivery.

Adeleke also set up a monitoring and evaluation unit for quarterly performance review of cabinet members.

A statement by Mr Kolapo Alimi, the Commissioner  for Information and Public Enlightenment on Wednesday in Osogbo, quoted the  governor as making the remarks while addressing the maiden State Executive Council meeting.

Adeleke  also  directed council members “to redouble their  efforts in service delivery to the  people.

“We should note particularly that 2024 is a critical year for this administration.

“By December, we will be reaching the mid-term. We must move fast in the implementation of our sectoral plans.

“You all must work hard in your various ministries to achieve set goals.

“Kindly be informed that I have set up a discreet monitoring and evaluation team to prepare quarterly reports on ministries and assess performance of members of the cabinet.

“Even though you did not sign a performance bond on assumption of office, you will henceforth be evaluated on your service delivery.

“We will not hesitate to remove from office any appointee that fails to deliver based on Monitoring and Evaluation reports,” he said.

Adeleke urged the cabinet members to focus on serious state matters rather than lobbying around issues of personal benefits.

Also, the council approved the appointments of six new traditional rulers in the state.

The statement said all the appointments were with immediate effect.

In addition, the council  approved the elevation of 11 more traditional rulers in Osun state to a Part II (Recognised) Status of the Chief Law, Cap 25, Laws of Osun state, 2002.

The Osun State Government has said Governor Ademola Adeleke neither removed the State’s Chief Judge, Justice Adepele Ojo, nor appointed anyone in acting capacity.

This is contained in a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Mr Kolapo Alimi, on Sunday in Osogbo.

Alimi explained the governor had only forwarded the resolution of the House of Assembly and recommendations for an acting appointment to the Chief Justice of the Federation for his action.

Recall the governor had, on Thursday, announced the appointment of Justice Olayinka Afolabi as the acting Chief Judge of the State with immediate effect.

Olayinka’s appointment followed last Thursday’s approval by the governor of the resolution of the assembly for the suspension of the chief judge over allegations of misconduct.

Ojo was asked to step aside pending the conclusion of the investigation of the allegations of misconduct, abuse of power, corruption and disregard for rule of law levelled against her by the assembly.

Adeleke, in a statement by his Spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, on Thursday had directed his deputy, Kola Adewusi, to perform the swearing-in of the acting chief judge on Friday.

The swearing-in did not, however, hold.

The commissioner said that the governor had duly notified the Chief Justice of the Federation as the Chairman of the National Judicial Council (NJC) in writing about the resolutions of the house of assembly, following series of petitions against Ojo.

“In the communication, Mr Governor intimated the CJN of the recommendation of the assembly that the chief judge should step aside.

“And he included his own submission for an acting appointment to fill the vacuum while the NJC reviews and decides on the petition.

“To that end, the governor, in the same letter, recommended to the CJN the appointment of the most senior judicial officer, Hon. Justice Olayinka David Afolabi, for thorough consideration and further processing by the same NJC, through the CJN.

“We urge the public to note that while the house of assembly recommended the appointment of a replacement to the governor in its resolution.

“The governor, however, toed the line of law by writing the CJN on the entire development and submitting all materials for NJC, as mandated national agency.

“We, therefore, wish to state categorically that Gov. Adeleke has not appointed any judicial official as acting Chief Judge and nobody has been sworn-in as acting Chief Judge of Osun State,” he said.

Alimi described Adeleke as a man of due process and rule of law, with a deep level of respect for the bar and the bench, the NJC and the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

He assured the public that Adeleke was fully aware of the limit of his powers as well as the responsibilities of the various agencies of government and would, therefore, not act, in any way, to violate the constitution and the rule of law.

Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has announced the appointment of Justice Olayinka Afolabi, as the acting Chief Judge of the State with immediate effect.

The appointment of Afolabi was in spite of the order of the National Industrial Court in Ibadan on Thursday which restrained the Osun government from terminating the appointment of Justice Adepele Ojo as chief judge.

Justice J.D. Peter had also ordered the government to continue to pay the salary entitlements, emoluments and other benefits of the chief judge.

However, Adeleke’s appointment of Afolabi followed the resolution of the state House of Assembly on Thursday for the suspension of Ojo over allegations of misconduct.

The Deputy-Governor,  Kola Adewusi, was directed to perform the swearing-in ceremony of the Acting Chief Judge on Friday.

Ojo was asked to step aside pending investigation of allegations of misconduct, abuse of power, corruption and disregard for rule of law against her by the assembly.

A statement by Malam Olawale Rasheed, the Spokesperson to the governor, said that the appointment  of Olayinka  as acting CJ was sequel to  the approval of the resolution of the assembly by the governor.

The lawmakers had resolved at plenary that the next in order of seniority to Ojo be sworn-in immediately to avoid any vacuum in the third arm government.

According to the lawmakers, the CJ  should step aside, not for any disciplinary action, but to allow for proper investigation of the allegations.

The assembly resolved that the executive should immediately notify the National Judicial Council and the State Judicial Service Commission of its resolutions.

It directed its committee on Judiciary, Public Petitions and Legal Matters to  investigate the the Chief Judge  by inviting her  within seven days from Thursday.

Recall that the coalition of civil society organisations in Osun had on Wednesday accused the governor of  plotting to remove the CJ.

The coalition at a press conference said that the governor was attempting to remove the CJ through the legislative arm.

But the state government denied the allegation.

In his reaction to the allegation, the Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Mr Kolapo Alimi, said that the state government  was unaware of any plot against the chief judge.

Alimi, in a statement, said that state government was commitment to due process and stipulated regulations across the arms of government.

The commissioner said that the governor was  not in a position to stop the legislature from doing its statutory job and neither can he hamstring the judiciary in the performance of its duties.