The Osun government’s asset recovery panel has ordered the state’s most recent governor, Gboyega Oyetola, and his wife Sherifat to relinquish any current possessions of official cars.
Olawale Rasheed, the governor’s spokeswoman for Ademola Adeleke, announced the information on Friday.
Tokunbo Salami, the chairman of the asset recovery body, said that the directive also applies to former state appointees.
According to reports, Oyetola has 11 vehicles, while his wife is alleged to own “many” types of government vehicles.
In the state, Salami said, there is no law that permits any elected or appointed officials to take state cars with them after their terms are up.
“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,” the statement reads.
“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 brand of governments vehicles which were taken away against provisions of the law.”
The former deputy governor Benedict Alabi, former chief of staff Charles Akinola, and former deputy chief of staff Abdullahi Binuyo were also asked to relinquish the government vehicles they were in possession of.
Former appointees who held positions as special advisers, stewards of local governments, board chairs, commissioners, and secretaries to the state government are also affected.
“The former Deputy Governor has more than seven government vehicles in his custody contrary to the provisions of the law,” statement reads.
“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.”
