When is ICPC going to arraign Agbado/OkeOdo LCDA Council Leader in Court? “CSER warns those who are working assiduously to cover up the brazen fraudulent act to desist”
The Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC has been urged to ensure justice over allegation of corruption leveled against a council leader, Ogunyemi Olatunji Emmanuel, who is alleged to be on the pay roll of Lagos State Universal Basic Education and at the same time, a counselor in Agbado-Okeode Local Council Development Area, LCDA of Lagos State.
In a press conference organized by a civil society organization, CSO, Center for Social and Economic Rights, CSER, Nelson Ekujumi, the Executive Director of the group commends ICPC for being alive to its responsibility and statutory function in investigating Ogunyemi who is said to be in two different pay rolls of the Lagos State Government.
According to the Organisation, Ogunyemi has allegedly violated Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 5 of 2000. “We understand that Ogunyemi Emmanuel was invited by the ICPC via letter dated 26th January, 2022 for questioning and was granted administrative bail pending his arraignment in court for which a ‘prima facie’ has been established”
Ekujumi added that “We are at loss to explain why this established case of fraud has not been concluded to a logical conclusion through arraignment of the suspect in court”, stressing that “justice delay is justice denied”.
The CSO commends the legislative arm of Agbado/Okeodo LCDA for calling for the resignation of the alleged council leader but wondered why Ogunyemi has failed to do the needful.
“We have it on good authority that some highly placed political leaders and members of the Lagos State House of Assembly are mounting pressure on the Agbado/OkeOdo LCDA legislature to hands off the matter and pretend as though nothing odd has happened when the fact on ground requires their support to sustain the integrity and character of the legislature and our democracy which is being assaulted. The action of these political leaders is undemocratic, anti=people, irresponsible, despicable and condemnable”.
CSER warns those who are working assiduously to cover up the brazen fraudulent act to desist and join hands to encourage Ogunyemi Emmanuel to step aside in order to sustain the honor and integrity of the lawmakers. Ekujumi noted that “We expect the ICPC to press a case of theft and fraud against Ogunyemi”.
The group who vows to pursue the case to a logical conclusion announces it readiness to assist the ICPC with evidences to corroborate the prosecution of a case of breach of public trust which is clearly not in dobut.
Azuka Ogugua, ICPC spokesperson had in few weeks ago confirmed to SECURITY MONITOR that Ogunyemi’s case is under investigation.
Engineer David Famuyewa, Agbado/Okeodo LCDA Chairman also confirmed the allegation and subsequent invitation extended to the council leader by the anti graft agency.
Adefisayo Folashade, Lagos State Commissioner for education, under which ministry the councilor is alleged to be collecting addittional salary could not react to the matter but directed SECURITY MONITOR to State Universal Basic Education Chairman. The commissioner stated that “SUBEB is an autonomous entity and that her ministry may have much to do about the matter”.
All efforts to speak with Ogunyemi proofs abortive as he keeps telling journalists that he’s busy and will call back later which he never did.
SECURITY MONITOR findings reveal that Ogunyemi has been drawing public funds concurrently as a political office holder and as a public servant with the Lagos State Universal Basic Education, SUBEB.
Further findings depicts that Ogunyemi as a civil servant with Oracle Number;132138 gets monthly salary through his Polaris bank account number:1767634542. And at the same time gets paid as an elected councilor with his WEMA bank account number:0122746192 since July 2017.
This, according to a petition by LYGEL Youths and Leadership Initiatives, a civil society group, titled: CORRUPT PRACTICES OF MR. OGUNYEMI OLATUNJI, THE COUNCILLOR REPRESENTING WARD G, AGBADO-OKEODO LOCAL COUNCIL DEVELOPMENT AREA,ABULE –EGBA, LAGOS STATE: A CALL FOR THOUROUGH INVESTIGATION is a clear case of corruption which must be investigated and prosecuted.
The petition dated 11th August, 2021 was signed by Olalekan Oladipupo, a legal practitioner and forwarded to ICPC alleges that Ogunyemi’s act of corruption is one of the reasons why there is non-availability of jobs for the teeming Lagos youths. The group charges the ant graft agency not sweep the case under the carpet as they opines that Ogunyemi has the backing of powerful forces within his political party.
About Author
