Alleged fraud: EFCC invites activist for endorsement of petition against embattled EDEPOLY Rector, Adekolawole
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has invited the human rights activist and Executive Chairman, Centre for Human Rights and Social Justice (CHRSJ), Comrade Adeniyi, Alimi Sulaiman for endorsement of his group’s petition against the embattled Rector of the Federal Polytechnic Ede, Osun State, Mr. John Taiwo Adekolawole, over alleged gross misconducts.
The EFCC’s invitation hinged on the CHRSJ’s Petition Letter dated Monday 22nd of June, 2020, to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), alleging Adekolawole of misappropriating some public funds of the institution through fictitious services and projects.
It further stated that the anti- graft bodies in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education, Abuja should ensure that all the public funds illegally move out of the Polytechnic treasury be returned to the institution purse with the evidence of proves.
The activist had earlier asked the embattled Rector to step aside from office honourably over the allegation of gross misconducts leveled against him by the ASUP Chairman of the Polytechnic, Mr. A. Masopa before he was recently suspended by the Polytechnics Board.
According to the signed statement issued and copies were made available to journalists on Monday, it was stated that EFCC Official named Inspector Bello with Phone Number-08039470340/09060186453, from E-Governance Department of Ibadan South West Zonal Office of the EFCC were in charge of the matter.
CHRSJ then urged the Federal Ministry of Education to involve the Office of the Head of Service of Federation (OHSF) to set up an independent panel of inquiry to investigate official gross misconducts leveled against Dr. Edaogbogun Adekolawole for possible disciplinary action.
The Petition reads thus; “The Rector, Dr. J.T. Edaogbogun Adekolawole be suspended hence forth from office, till the conclusion of all the allegations of financial crimes and gross official misconducts leveled against him, before summary dismissal. Anti- graft bodies should conduct forensic audit into all the Federal Polytechnic Ede Account books from 1st of January, 2015 till 30th of June, 2020.
“EFCC and ICPC should investigate the salary account of Mrs. Olukemi Adekolawole from 1st of January, 2015 till 30th of June, 2020, in order to know the actual salaries collected by her as a result of illegal promotion and upgrading given to her by her husband, Dr. J. Taiwo Edaogbogun Adekolawole, the current Rector of the Polytechnic.
“Our investigation revealed that Mr. Edaogbogun Adekolawole led management team of the Polytechnic in collaboration with the Polytechnic Governing Council Chairman, hired ADMUHAM Travels and Tours to organize illegal retreats for few members of the Governing Council where the sum of Forty million naira (N40,000,000) were approved and withdrawn from the Polytechnic treasury in less than twenty- four (24) hours as reflected in the two internal memory double dated 12th February,2020 with reference number:-FPE/R/CA/REC/26/375&376 respectively.
“Also, through internal Memo dated 30th January, 2020 with reference number:-FPE/REC/PRO/308, the Rector approved illegal sum of Eight Hundred and Ninety Thousand, One Hundred and Eighty Naira (N891,180.00k) for air ticket, hotel accommodation and transport fare for the wedding ceremony of the younger brother of the Council.
“Chairman in Sokoto State and Rector approved the same Air ticket fare for his wife, Mrs. Olukemi Adekolawole and many more of financial scandals.”
The statement further alleged that the Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Ede, Mr. J.T. Edaogbogun (as he then was) changed his surname to present Adekolawole when he realized that the name “Edaogbogun” could not be allowed to occupy any position of responsibility in the Polytechnic community because Edaogbogun had been used to perpetrate evils as a Lecturer in the year past in the Polytechnic which made the disciplinary Committee of the institution to suspend him without pay for two session and as well removed him from Directorship and Headship of the School of Applied Sciences and Department of Science Laboratory Technology respectively over what they termed as “Gross Misconduct” as contained in a Letter dated 1st November,1995 with reference number:-FPE/99/01/117 and signed by the then Registrar of the institution, F.C. Mordi.
It explained that Adekolawole had involved in the financial mismanagement of the School funds to the tune of Sixty million naira (N60, 000,000), stating that embattled Rector had been alleged to have enmeshed in series of allegations of violating the extant laws guiding the regulations of the institution, adding that since Adekolawole became Rector, his tenure has been characterized with lopsided appointment, indiscriminate issuance of queries, nepotism, disobedience to the extant rules and others.
It maintained that part of allegations raised against the Rector was; on December 11, 2017, few month after his appointment as Rector gave his wife, Mrs. Olukemi Adekolawole, what can be regarded as triple promotion.
