The Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Professor Olusola Oyewole, was a guest of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission yesterday, following an invitation by the anti-graft agency.
For more than seven hours after their arrival at the Ibadan Zonal office of the agency located at 16, Rev’d Oyebode Crescent, Iyaganku GRA, Oyewole and the Institution’s bursar, Mr. Moses Ilesanmi, were still undergoing questioning over allegations bearing on corruption, mismanagement of fund and abuse of office.
The grilling of the two top officials of FUNAAB was still ongoing as at the time of filling this report.
A top source at the commission’s office, who spoke in confidence with our correspondent, was not sure how long their interrogation would last due to the voluminous nature of the petition against them.
Their invitation by the anti-graft agency followed a petition entitled, “Unbridled Corruption and betrayal of Public Trusts”, which was submitted to the Commission by a group, Concerned Stakeholders of The Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta.
The FUNAAB vice chancellor and bursar arrived at the EFCC office in company with two other people in two cars with registration numbers FUNAB 50B 143FG and FUNAB 50B 08FG at 9:43am and were received by some officials of the agency.
An official social media post by the agency confirmed the situation.
The Head, Public Affairs, EFCC Ibadan office, Mr. Ayo Oyewole, who also confirmed the development was not certain how long the questioning of the FUNAAB VC and bursar would last.
Oyewole later directed the reporter to the EFCC site.
The post reads, “EFCC, IBADAN QUIZZES FUNAAB VICE CHANCELLOR. The Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, FUNAAB, Professor Olusola Oyewole alongside the University Bursar, Mr. Moses Ilesanmi are being quizzed at the Iyaganku office of the EFCC Ibadan today, August 17, 2016 in respect of an alleged case of Abuse of Office and misappropriation of funds reported against the Management, the University Pro Chancellor and some members of the Governing Council.
“According to a petition submitted to the EFCC by the Concerned Stakeholders of the Federal University of Agriculture, it was alleged that the Pro-Chancellor and the Vice Chancellor engaged in an unbridled corruption and betrayal of public trust.
“The duo are still being interrogated and have made useful statements that will help the EFCC operatives get through a diligent investigation into matter”,
According to the invitation letter sent to the VC and bursar, the university officials were instructed to come along with certified true copies of documents, including those of capital projects executed in their tenure.
While Oyewole, a professor of Food Science and Technology, was appointed in 2012, Ilesanmi was appointed in September 2011 and is scheduled to leave office in a month.
Part of the allegations levelled against the top officials under investigations include payments made by the university to the governing council of the institution led by a former Senator from Lagos State, who was appointed by former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2013
