N90 Billion Misappropriation: Aregbesola set to probe Oyinlola

Source: pointblanknews.com

advertisement
The Osun state executive council has given the nod for the probe of the Olagunsoye Oyinlola seven and half years administration with the release of a white paper on the report of the Contract Review Committee (CRC) set up to review the state of some contracts awarded by the court deposed regime.

The committee was set up to consider work done on the Free Trade Zone (FTZ), State Drug Manufacturing Company, work done with the controversial N18.38 Billion loan taken by the administration at the twilight of their exits and some other ones came up with damning revelations about how government funds were recklessly applied without regard to laid down financial procedures and ordered cessation of work, outright termination and refund of misplaced government funds in some cases.

The commissioner for Information and Strategy in the state, Sunday Akerele told newsmen that the executive council had adopted the report and approved the instant commencement of the probe.

The government in the white paper accepted the recommendation on the Living Spring Free Trade Zone and Industrial Park which has the potential of catapulting the economy of the state to greater heights and ordered that $1m USD which was released to IDG through Riverbanks Trade and Investment Ltd account at Oceanic Bank and which IDG and was expected to contribute $2m USD but failed should be refunded by the three signatories to the account Mr Abiola Olaniyan, Mr Deji Afolabi and Mrs Ayomide Farounbi- Seriki with a determined interest without delay.

The committee noted that IDG and Riverbanks Trade and Investment Ltd could not play any reasonable role other than fleecing the state of its meager resources because it failed to contribute 85% of the cost of equipments to facilitate the smooth take off of the project aside repudiating on the contribution of the $2million USD.

 In the white paper, the government not only dispensed with the services of the companies as recommended but also ordered refund of N60M released on accountable basis to IDG through the bank account of Mr Deji Afolabi for the purchase of equipment for the development of Oyinlola Farm Settlement Initiative, #26,156,402.88 paid to Messrs Panat Nig. Ltd  for contracts not done and another N13.450. 800.00. Billion received by the Bureau of Computer Services Information Technology for the provision of Internet Services at the centre should be refunded to government purse failure which the Ministries of Commerce and Justice should institute civil and criminal remedies against the identified culprits.

 
The government white paper observed that contract awarded for the supply, installation and test running of the State Drug Manufacturing Company were yet to be supplied with the contract eventually terminated with immediate effect while those awarded for supply of furniture, office equipment and laboratory wares to Messrs Falukay Medical Nigeria Ltd, Humana Nigeria Ltd and Omax Ray Nigeria Ltd were also ordered to be stopped for bad performance while all the companies are to refund funds collected on jobs not done.

A board will be set up by the government to administer the affairs of the company while Messrs Samlink Integrated Services Ltd is to refund the excess of $1,099,249.60 being the outstanding still in his custody.

On the projects funded with the controversial N18.38  Billion, an administrative panel of enquiry was ordered to be set up to investigate circumstances leading to the commitment of a whopping sum of #4,121,314,536.17 to the upgrading of nine (9) technical colleges for which a budgetary provision of N217. Million was made without informing the Secretary of the Board for Technical and Vocational Education.

The new panel becomes necessary so as to ascertain circumstances surrounding the entire project from conception to implementation, as well as culpability, or otherwise, of government agencies or officials.

As for the six zonal stadia under construction, the government white paper affirmed that ongoing work on Osogbo Stadium should be maintained but the total cost of the project must not exceed N1.4 Billion

The scope of work on the other five stadia in Ilesa, Ile-Ife, Ede, Iwo and Ikirun are to be brought down considerably giving priority to the football pitch, tracks, a small grandstand for 200 people and fencing all within the amount already paid out as mobilization fees.