Alleged Asset Looting: Oriolowo debunked allegation by Osun govt, demands apologise within 7 days

By Ismail Azeez, Osogbo

The Senator representing Osun West Senatorial District, Engr. Adelere Oriolowo has debunked the allegations by the state government that he illegally took possession of items belonging to the state.

It would recalled that Asset Recovery Committee set up by Governor Ademola Adeleke, to retrieve some stolen government properties from the immediate-past administration had in its preliminary report, indicted Senator Oriolowo of being in custody of 130G Motor Grader (005132-A321), D6 Bulldozer (OS130-A32), Electric Transformer Feeder Board Panel and Soil Compactor Machine (OS137- A32).

Oriolowo stated this while addressing journalists on Tuesday in Iwo, gave the state government seven days ultimatum to apologize and pay sum of Five Hundred Million Naira (N500,000,000) compensation from the government.

He described the allegations as a blatant falsehood, a naked display of recklessness, sacrilegious dereliction of truth and unjustifiable character assassination.

He noted that the allegation had caused so much damage to his name, reputation and legacy saying, “since the publication, many well- meaning people within and outside the shores of Nigeria have continuously reached out to me for clarification and solidarity.”

According to Oriolowo: “I was taken aback as to why a committee of the State would jettison the principle of fair hearing by inviting me to defend whatever report they must have gotten. I also reliably gathered that this said committee failed to submit their report to their principal before going to the public to malign my name.

“The said equipment which belongs to the then OSSADEP was in existence when I left the agency 15 years ago. To the best of my knowledge, some of them were transferred to the Ministry of Rural Development to assist the government. A simple due diligence or investigation by the committee would have unravelled the salient fact that the equipment is still property of the Osun State Government.”

“I have thus instructed my lawyers to write to the State Government demanding a letter of apology within seven (7) days and to also pay the sum of Five Hundred Million Naira (N500,000,000) as compensation for the unquantifiable damage done to my name and integrity.

“My lawyer’s letter has since been received by the Government on the 30th December, 2022 and it is my hope that this Government will retrace its steps, retract the publication and apologize to me. Failure in which, I will use all legal means available to me to get justice.”