Nigeria’s most widely read newspaper, The Punch, has corroborated insideoyo.com’s story on the probe of ex-caretaker chairmen, who served till May 2015, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Insideoyo.com had in a series of articles reported how the chairmen have been inviting the ex-council bosses for questioning following a petition written to the anti-graft agency regarding the alleged diversion of over N363m.
Attempts were made to silence insideoyo.com on the coverage of the probe. One of its top editorial men was threatened.
In an exclusive report with Sunday Punch, it revealed how EFCC is also probing the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters and the state government on allegations bordering on abuse of office and stealing.
The petitioner had alleged that a few days before the 2015 presidential election, the chairmen in connivance with some state government officials shared the money.
Related: EFCC Detains Ex-Oyo ALGON Chair, 6 Others Over Alleged Fraud
Below is excerpt from Punch story
It was further alleged that between March 23 and March 25, 2015, N11m was approved by the Local Government Stabilisation Account for each of the 33 local government areas of the state.
The money was said to have been withdrawn in cash by the various caretaker chairmen and allegedly handed over to the then chairman of the state branch of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria.
A source at the EFCC said, “We have been able to establish a prima facie case against some Oyo State Government officials, including the 33 caretaker chairmen. We believe the funds were meant for the 2015 election.
“We will soon arrest those found culpable.”
One of the former caretaker council chairmen, who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity, said that he was told that the money was meant to prevent Boko Haram’s possible attack during or after the election.
He confirmed that he had been invited by the EFCC to state what he knew about the money.
The ex-council boss said, “We were told that there was a security report that Boko Haram could strike in the state during or after the election and that each of the council areas should contribute N11m and hand it over to the ALGON chairman so that the anti-terrorist activity, for which the money was meant to be coordinated centrally.
“From the amount, N10m was actually deposited to the ALGON chairman, while N1m was in the hands of each council chairman for logistics in the councils. I heard that three councils could not raise the money, while some chairmen refused to deposit their own because they were afraid that it could be diverted for election purposes. I have been invited by the EFCC and I have stated what I know about the whole issue.”
Asked if the chairmen knew how the money was eventually spent, the ex-council boss said the impression he had was that it was spent for the purpose.
He said, “How would I know the way the money was spent when I was told that the anti-terrorist activity would be centrally coordinated?
“However, since there was no attack during or after the election, the general impression was that the money was used for that purpose.”
An attempt by one of our correspondents to get the reaction of the state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Bimbo Kolade, was futile. A text message sent to his mobile telephone was not responded to as of the time of filing the report.
A government source, who preferred anonymity, however, told one of our correspondents that the documents attached to the petition submitted at the EFCC showed that it was possible that some persons who had access to classified files at the state secretariat or at the local government offices approached the EFCC.
Related: EFCC Questions, Releases 4 Ex-Oyo Council Chairmen Over Alleged Fraud
