Former Osun State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Prince Adebayo Adeleke, has dismissed allegations of financial misconduct leveled against him and the previous administration of ex-Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, describing them as politically motivated and lacking merit.

Reacting to the accusations ,Adeleke criticised the current administration led by Governor Ademola Adeleke, alleging that it was engaging in a smear campaign against the former governor and his allies.

The state Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, while briefing newsmen in Osogbo, accused the previous administration under the leadership of the former Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, of syphoning the state Treasury

According to Alimi, “In flagrant violations of the state Public Procurement Act 2007 and Laundering of state funds ,Oyetola did not call for bidding as mandatorily required under the PPA, let alone allowing competition which would have afforded the state the best-qualified contractors to handle the projects.

“Rather, the former governor in observing the provisions of the Act in breach, awarded the contracts to individuals who were either his cabinet members, head of one agency of government or the other, his proxies and cronies who claimed to have incorporated business names/inactive companies.”

The former commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs, Adeleke specifically accused the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Alimi, of being biased and having a personal vendetta against Oyetola.

“Barrister Kolapo Alimi has always been a known enemy of Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola. He has insulted him repeatedly in different forums. As for me, I have openly opposed Governor Adeleke’s style of administration because they have consistently acted against the rule of law. There is no accountability, and they do not seem to be responsible to the people who elected them. Each time we complain, we receive threats,” Adeleke stated.

He also refuted claims that his company, ICE FIRM NIG. LIMITED, improperly secured government contracts during his tenure as commissioner, clarifying that the contracts in question were awarded before he assumed office.

“In the documents they presented, it was alleged that ICE FIRM NIG. LIMITED, a company I own, was awarded some contracts. Luckily, they didn’t claim we didn’t execute the work. Their argument is that as a commissioner, I was not supposed to have gotten those contracts,” he explained.

“On page 21 of their report, they alleged that I signed a letter of acceptance for the contract on behalf of ICE FIRM NIG. LIMITED on September 3, 2019. However, my appointment as commissioner did not come until October 24, 2019. Perhaps they do not understand the difference between the two dates,” he added.

Also reacting to the allegations, Abiodun Idowu, the former chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) under the Oyetola administration, described the claims as baseless and an attempt to discredit the former government.

Idowu defended the financial dealings of ALGON, stating that all transactions followed due process. He noted that Akeem Ibitoye, a financial expert engaged to manage project funds, was wrongly accused of mismanaging state funds.

“When we assumed office, there was no record or written documentation of previous transactions for any executed project. We tried to change that by engaging a financial expert to manage our accounts. The person we engaged, Akeem Ibitoye, was a Director of Finance in Ife East Local Government at the time,” Idowu explained.

He dismissed allegations that Ibitoye fled the country to evade scrutiny, clarifying that he retired from service after due process.

“He officially submitted his retirement notice in August 2023, long after the probe committee had started its investigations. He later moved abroad to join his family. If he was found wanting, why did the committee not raise any concerns when he was processing his retirement? This is pure witch-hunting,” he stated.

The back-and-forth between the Osun State government and members of the previous administration has deepened political tensions in the state, with both sides holding firm to their positions.