Why I petition EFCC over Assembly fraud— Embattled deputy Speaker

Embattled Deputy Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Hon Iroju Ogundeji has denied the allegation that he wanted to share part of the proceeds of fraud with the Speaker, Hon Bamidele Oleyeloogun that made him petition the Economic Financial Crime Commission(EFCC.

Rather, Ogundeji said he wanted to clear his hard earn reputation that some members of the Assembly were trying to drag into the mud when they used his name to perpetrate fraud in the guise of phoney seminar.

The leadership of the Assembly and top civil servants have been arraigned before an Akure High Court sitting at Correctional Center Olokuta over alleged fraud of N2.4 million.

However, the Majority Leader of the House, Hon… Ogunmolasuyi denied any wrongdoing in the fraud. He also exonerated the Speaker saying he knew nothing about the fraud and that the fund in question has paid back to govt treasury on 9th March, 2021

But speaking to reporters yesterday, Ogundeji said the claim of the Majority Leader was an afterthought after it had been established that they used his name to commit fraud.

The embattled lawmaker said “Go through the Release Warrant issued from the Ministry of Finance and Accountant General’s office, you will see the claim that they have attended a Seminar between 11th and 12th Dec, 2019 organised by the National Productivity Centre, Lagos.

“In the release warant and the approval letter duly signed by the Speaker, Hon Bamidele Oleyelogun, they included my Office and four other members of the House as the beneficiaries of the phoney Seminar which I did not attend or know anything about.

“They raised the Release Voucher on 31st Dec, 2019. After one good year which they claimed to have attended the Seminar, I stumbled on the voucher at the Accountant General’s office. I confronted the Speaker with the voucher and he denied ever seeing the documents despite his approval signature on it.

” I advised him to returned the money to govt treasury through a letter dated 31st Dec, 2020 so as to clear my hard earned reputable name from any fraudulent corrupt practices, which he failed to do.

“It is equally worthy of note that the National Productivity Centre, Lagos denied ever organising any Seminar for Ondo Assembly during investigaton and enquiry. Oleyelogun refusal to pay the money back to govt treasury made me to petition Economic and Financial Crime Commission which swung into action of investing them.

“A critical evaluation of the letter purportedly written and signed by the House of Assembly Accountant, Arokoyu M acknowledging the receipt of the phony Seminar amount to House of Assembly Account, the letter did not carry any reference number which made the letter doubtful and incredible.

” Again, the money purportedly returned to House of Assembly Account ordinarily does not belong to the Assembly but the State government and the fund supposed to have been returned to State government’s account where the money was released and collected.

” It will be recalled that Oleyelogun and his cohorts unlawfully and illegally suspended me sometimes in July 2020, the decision which Ondo High Court had declared null and void, ultra vires and of no effect whatsoever and also purportedly impeached me from office unlawfully in November 2020.

” During those periods they disallowed me from taking part in the activities of the House. How come from the figment of the imagination of Ogunmolasuyi that Oleyelogun did not agree with me to share the money?

“They are birds of the same feather. Mere returning the money to the government account as they claimed made them culpable. I am handicapped and it will be sub judice to release more damming facts on this case because the matter has been investigated by the EFFC and already before a Court of Competent jurisdiction.”

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