EFCC: OGUN ASSEMBLY BEHIND OUR TRAVAILS – DANIEL

Ogun State Government yesterday reacted to the invitation of two local government chairmen by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), describing it as the handiwork of their detractors.

The former chairman of Ikenne Local Government, Chief Pegba Otemolu and the current Chairman of Obafemi-Owode Local Government, Mr. Akeem Adesina and the Director-General of the state Bureau of Lands and Surveys, Mr. Gbenga Ogunnoiki were guests of the anti-graft agency between Monday and Tuesday.

Speaking through the state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Sina Kawonise, Daniel also accused the leaderhsip of the state House of Assembly of being behind the travails of Otemolu, Adesina and Ogunnoiki.

But in a swift reaction, the Speaker of the state Assembly, Mr Tunji Egbetokun said neither him nor any member of the House knew anything about the petition.

'They are chasing shadow, neither myself nor any member of the House knew anything about the petition they are referring to.

The petition in question, I learnt was written by some councillors from Obafemi-Owode Local Government.'

According to Kawonise, the Speaker had threatened to expose the state government to the commission after a press conference held some weeks ago where he accused the leadership of the House of mismanaging their monthly allocation.

His words: 'It is a known fact that what happened in the last four days was the outcome of a threat by Mr. Egbetokun, that he will expose the state government to the EFCC.

'I recalled that the Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Mr Tunji Egbetokun, during a telephone conversation with me (Kawonise) accused me that I said the Assembly had been sharing allocation meant for the running of the House.' He explained that the state government received a sum of N7bn while the council areas shared amongst themselves N6.5bn respectively.