Ademola Adeleke

The asset recovery panel set up by the Osun State Government has directed the immediate past governor of the state, Mr Gboyega Oyetola, and his wife, Sherifat, to return official vehicles in their possession.

The directive was announced on Friday in a statement by Olawale Rasheed, spokesperson to Governor Ademola Adeleke.

According to the statement, Tokunbo Salami, the chairman of the asset recovery panel, said the directive also applies to former appointees of the state.

Oyetola is said to have 11 vehicles in his possession, while his wife has “several” brands of government vehicles in her possession.

Salami added that there is no law in the state that authorizes any elected or appointed officials to leave with state vehicles after the completion of their tenure.

The statement reads, “The Assets Recovery Panel of the Osun State Government has directed former Governor Gboyega Oyetola, his wife, Hajia Kafayat Oyetola, and other former appointees to immediately return assorted vehicles valued at N2.9 billion presently illegally in their possession.

“Due diligence has been conducted and the committee has concluded that the affected past officials should return government vehicles in their possession.

“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.

“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 brands of government vehicles which were taken away against provisions of the law.”

The panel also directed Benedict Alabi, the former deputy governor; Charles Akinola, former chief of staff; and Abdullahi Binuyo, former deputy chief of staff, to return the official vehicles in their possession.

Other affected persons include those who served as special advisers, local government caretakers, board chairpersons, commissioners, and secretaries to the state government.

“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 a motor grader, bulldozer, and soil compactor machine, among others.

“All affected ex-officials are to urgently comply with the above request or risk enforcement procedures,” the statement added.

Osun State is experiencing a new dawn, and a new sheriff has arrived. After being sworn in as governor yesterday, Senator Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) got right to work making difficult choices.

First, he gave the order to form a panel of investigation to look into any hurried placements and appointments made by Adegboyega Oyetola, his predecessor.

Along with freezing all state finances immediately, he also ordered that the name of the state be changed from State of Osun to Osun State.

At 11.45 a.m., Senator Adeleke took the oath of office to become the new governor of Osun State.

Justice Oyebola Adepele-Ojo, the State Chief Judge, administered the oath of office to the Governor.

Governor Adeleke strolled around the stadium after entering the area, followed by his nephew David Adeleke, aka Davido, to accept cheers from the ecstatic throng in the main bowl.

The state’s name was changed to State of Osun by the Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola administration in 2011, and its motto was changed from State of the Living Spring to State of the Virtue.

Adeleke, the sixth executive governor of the state, promised to right the wrongs committed by his predecessor in his inaugural speech after being sworn in.

“I, hereby, issue the following directives which will be backed up with appropriate Executive orders: 

“Immediate freezing of all government accounts in banks and other financial institutions; an immediate reversal to the constitutionally ecognized name of our state, Osun State. All government insignia, correspondences and signages should henceforth reflect Osun State rather than State of Osun, which is unknown to the Nigerian constitution.” He said.