The Governor-elect of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has insisted that he has valid reports of an illegal directive to local governments to return about 80 percent of their recent fiscal allocations to the state government in cash under a very questionable arrangement.
According to a report, the amount to be repaid to the state government by each of the councils varies from N30 million to N25 million, leaving most of the local governments with about two to three million Naira left after such illegal cash return to the Ministry of Local Government in Osogbo.
A statement issued and made available yesterday by the Spokesman to the Governor-elect, Mr. Rasheed Olawale, said the most illicit part of the directive was that the council managers are expected to prepare paperwork to cover up the withdrawn fund and classified it as spent amount within the local government financial records.
The report also disclosed that 30 local governments and area councils are to conclude the fund movement to Osogbo latest by tomorrow Friday.
“We are aware that the council managers have been busy working to enforce the directive as the funds are to be returned to the ministry in cash before the close of work today (Friday).
“It is against the above background that the Governor-elect of Osun state, Senator Ademola Adeleke is instructing council managers to beware of criminal conduct and conspiracy that may jeopardize their career and land them in a corruption trial.
“Senator Adeleke challenged why legitimately allocated funds meant for the local governments are being withdrawn under such shady conditions, describing the cash withdrawal directive as a clear act of criminal diversion of public fund.’
“We want to put it on records that we are closely monitoring the reported fund movement from the source to the destination. Those involved in the corruption enterprise should stop the plan as all the facts of the deal are in our possession.
“All last minutes agendas to further bankrupt Osun State is being scrutinized and documented. Any public servant involved in such a dirty deal will be held responsible. Any elected or appointed official who engaged in the last minutes raiding of the Osun treasury will face the full wrath of the law. We particularly call on council managers and bureaucrats to reject any illicit directive,” the governor-elect affirmed.
Source: This Day
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