The Osun State Government has asked the immediate past governor of the state; Gboyega OyetolaHe is said to have taken 11 vehicles from the state after the end of his term to return them.
Apart from the ex-governor, others who were asked to return vehicles illegally taken from the state include Mr. Oyetola’s wife, Kafayat Oyetola, and former aides to the ex-governor.
Olawale Rasheed, the spokesman for the current governor, Demola Adeleke, in a statement on Friday said the illegally seized vehicles were valued at N2.9 billion.
Mr. Oyetola is yet to respond to the claims made by Mr. Rasheed as at the time of this report.
Mr Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress lost his re-election bid to Mr Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party.
Mr. Adeleke, since assuming office, has repeatedly accused Mr. Oyetola of incompetence and the latter has reversed some of his actions as governor.
Mr. Oyetola, however, denied wrongdoing and said he acted in the interest of the state.
Mr. Oyetola is, however, still challenging the outcome of the July governorship election at the electoral court.
In a statement on Friday, Mr. Rasheed said the government’s decision was taken by an asset recovery panel set up by the new governor.
“The Asset Recovery Panel of the Osun State Government has ordered former governor Gboyega Oyetola, his wife, Hajia Kafayat Oyetola and other former nominees to immediately return several vehicles valued at N2.9 billion that are currently outlawed,” Mr. Rasheed wrote in his hand. Friday’s statement.
“As of now, there is no law that allows elected or appointed officials to travel in state vehicles after they have completed their term of office.”
Read Mr. Rasheed’s full statement below.
Osun Government has ordered former governor Oyetola and other appointees to return vehicles worth N2.9 billion
The Osun State Government Asset Recovery Panel has directed former governor Gboyega Oyetola, his wife, Hajia Kafayat Oyetola and other former nominees to immediately return several vehicles valued at N2.9 billion that are currently outlawed.
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The ex-officials drove away with various models of vehicles without any legal basis for this action. As of today, there is no law that allows elected or appointed officials to travel in state vehicles after their term of office is over.
The chairman of the Asset Recovery Commission, Dr. BT Salami, disclosed that due diligence has been done and the commission has concluded that the affected past officials should return their government vehicles.
“This is the first batch of vehicles to be recovered. We will release the second series soon. All affected officials should immediately return the vehicles in their possession to avoid coercive procedures for the recovery of State property,” said the Chairman of the Commission.
In the list of affected officials, Governor Oyetola alone has 11 vehicles, Lexus Jeep, Toyota Prado jeep and several models of expensive vehicles. The wife, Mrs. Kafayat, also owns several government vehicles that were taken against the provisions of the law.
Other former officials listed include immediate past SPECIAL Security Adviser, former Chief of Staff, former Personal Assistant to the Governor, former Special Assistants to the Governor, former Principal Special Assistants, former Special Advisers, former local government chairmen and members, former council chairmen. and members, former Head of State, former Deputy Head of State, former Deputy Governor, former Secretary of the State Government, former commissioners among others.
The former deputy governor has more than seven government vehicles at his disposal, contrary to the law.
The serving senator, Oriolowo is also directed to return to the Osun State Agricultural Development Program five machines namely motor grader, bulldozer, soil compactor among others.
All affected ex-employees must immediately comply with the aforementioned request or risk enforcement procedures.
Signed by:
Mallam Olawale Rasheed,
Spokesperson for the Executive Governor
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