The Assets Recovery Panel of the Osun State Government has said it has concluded its findings, revealing that former Governor Gboyega Oyetola, his wife, Kafayat, ex-deputy governor, Benedict Alabi and other former appointees made away with government vehicles worth N2.9 billion.
The Chairman of the committee, B. T. Salami, through a statement issued by spokesperson to Governor Ademola Adeleke, Olawale Rasheed, on Friday, gave reports that due diligence was conducted during findings by the panel, directing the affected past officials to immediately return government vehicles presently in their possession.
Salami said the former officials had gone away with various models of vehicles without any legal basis for such action.
He said there is no law that authorised any elected or appointed officials to go with state vehicles after completing their tenure of office.
Failure for them to return the assets, the committee threatened to use coercive procedures to recover the vehicles.
Explaining the findings, Salami said, “this is the first batch of vehicles to be retrieved. We will soon come up with the second batch. All affected officials should return the vehicles in their possession immediately to avoid coercive procedures for recovery of State assets”, the Committee Chairman said.
“In the list of affected officials, Governor Oyetola alone has 11 vehicles ranging from Lexus Jeep, Toyota Prado jeeps and assorted models of costly vehicles. The wife, Mrs Kafayat also has in her possession several brand of governments vehicles which were taken away against provisions of the law.
“Other former officials listed include immediate past Special Adviser on Security, former Chief Details, former Personal Assistant to the Governor, former special assistants to the Governor, former Senior special assistants, former special advisers, former local government caretaker chairmen and members, former board chairmen and members, former Chief of Staff, former Deputy Chief of Staff, former Deputy Governor , former Secretary to the State Government, former commissioners among others.
“The former Deputy Governor has more than seven government vehicles in his custody contrary to the provisions of the law.
“A serving Senator, Oriolowo is also directed to return to the Osun State Agricultural Development Programme five machines namely motor grader, buldozer, soil compactor machine among others.
“All affected ex-officials are to urgently comply with the above request or risk enforcement procedures,” the panel said.
