Adegboyega Oyetola, the former governor, has been ordered to hand over any government vehicles he is in the custody of by the Osun State Assets Recovery Panel.
The committee was established by the state governor, Ademola Adeleke, to retrieve government property that was in the control of private individuals, including former government employees who worked during Oyetola’s administration.
The panel also ordered the return of several vehicles worth N2.9 billion that were in the possession of the ex-wife, governor Kafayat Oyetola, and other officials of the previous administration.
Olawale Rasheed, Adeleke’s spokeswoman, revealed in a statement obtained in Osogbo on Friday that former officials had left with a variety of vehicles without having a valid legal reason to do so.
In a release, Dr. Bashiru Salami, the chairman of the asset recovery committee, was quoted as saying:
“As of today, there is no law that authorised any elected or appointed officials to go with state vehicles after completing their tenure of office.
“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 government 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, bulldozer, and soil compactor machine among others.”
Calls to Ismail Omipidan, the ex-governor Oyetola spokesperson, were unanswered, and as of the time this article was filed, he had not replied to a text message sent to him regarding the situation.
