Less than two weeks after former Governor Rauf Aregbesola completed his two terms in office, some human rights activists under the umbrella of Civil Societies Coalition for the Emancipation of Osun State have dragged the ex-governor and a member of his cabinet before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over alleged financial fraud.
The group accused Aregbesola of ‘milking Osun State dry’ before leaving office, noting that sum of N375billion debt and over 15 months salaries and pensions arrears were left behind by his administration.
Aregbesola’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ajibola Bashiru, was accused of illegal acquisition of property worth N2.2 billion with public funds while serving as a public officer.
The group insisted that the eight-year-tenure of Aregbesola as state governor should be probed.
In a petition signed by the Chairman of CSCEOS, Comrade Adeniyi Sulaiman, the group asked the EFCC to probe Aregbesola’s government and the former Commissioner for Justice.
The petition, forwarded to the Acting Chairman of EFCC through its Ibadan zonal office on Friday and made available to The Point in Osogbo, read in parts: “We are constrained to write this petition to the anti-graft body in line with Section 15 Sub-section 5 and 24 and (1e) of the amended 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Freedom of Information Act 2011 and National Human Rights Commission Act 2010 (amendment) where Freedom of Speech and Expression are highlighted.
“It is our responsibility as a stakeholder in Nigeria projects, especially, Osun State, in the area of waging war against
menace of corruption in our society and in consonance with the believe of President Muhammadu Buhari that If we do not kill corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria. So, we must join hands together to kill corruption in our society in order to save the country from the brink of collapse.
“It is against this background that we are reporting the suspicious alleged illegal accumulation of wealth through identified physical properties in Osun and Lagos states worth N2.2billion belonging to immediate past Osun State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ajibola Bashiru.
“To our dismay, Mr. Bashiru was acquiring these properties in the choice areas of the two states (Osun and Lagos) through Osun public
funds. The government he served in just six years where he acquired such wealth, were owing the workers and retirees alike up to 14 to 17 months’ salary and pension arrears with the excuse of no funds in the state government’s purse.
“In the light of the foregoing, we wish to inform your good office of the illegally acquired properties of Mr. Ajibola Bashiru in just six years (to include) a gigantic estate at Oroki Estate Extension at the back of popular GMT Hotel, Goke Omigbodun Way, Ring Road, Osogbo; a residential building at Adejare Bello Way, Laymus Hotel area, Oke-Fia GRA, Osogbo; an office complex at Arubuola Street, beside Ike-oluwa Mosque, Ladsol Pure Water Bus Stop, Ogo Oluwa area, Osogbo and host of other properties including fleet of cars.
