Oyo asks EFCC to
refund Ladoja ‘stolen’ money, expedite Akala’s trial
The Oyo State government has asked the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to release to it money and property
belonging to the state confiscated from its former governor, Senator Rashidi
Ladoja, as well as expedite the trial of former governor, Adebayo Alao-Akala.
This decision, which formed part of the resolutions of the
State Executive Council, was conveyed to the press on Tuesday in a statement by
the State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Taiwo Otegbeye.
According to the executive council resolution, this was
necessary for good governance.
According to a release signed by Dr Festus Adedayo Special Adviser to the governor Media,the statement reads in part: “The Executive Council of Oyo
State Government has passed a resolution urging the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission (EFCC) to expedite action on the trial of the two former
governors of Oyo State and their co-accused persons facing trial for
misappropriation of the state funds and resources.”
While commending the EFCC for its giant strides in
investigating, arresting and prosecuting the two former governors for offences
relating to misappropriation and conversion of the state funds and resources,
the government noted that the trials of the former governors were yet to
commence.
More specifically, in the statement, the state asked the
commission to release to it the state government money and property, which
included impounded vehicles which were purchased from the proceeds of the loot for
some family members, that were recovered from the former governor and fellow
accused persons.
According to the government, the money and property
recovered by the anti-graft agency, which it said were well over N700 million,
(Seven hundred million naira), was still outstanding.
The government thus demanded for the refund to enable the
state apply and use it for the execution of developmental projects in the
state.
“The council pledges the support and cooperation of the Oyo
State Government to EFCC in its task of ridding the country of corruption,” the
statement said.
