Ondo government alleges state assets in private hands

The Ondo State Government has raised concerns over the continued retention of state assets in the hands of former political office holders.

The State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr Olukayode Ajulo, raised the alarm in a statement on Friday in Akure, the state capital.

In the statement, Ajulo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, said “One year after the untimely passing of former Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, a significant portion of the state’s assets has been unlawfully transferred into private hands.

“We denounce this as completely unacceptable and we are calling for a united stand against the misappropriation of public resources.

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“During a candid review of the past year under Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, and as a Attorney General, I must say, this is wrong; we cannot continue on this path.

“There is immediate need for transparency and accountability, in reference to serious previous allegations about forged signatures used to facilitate dubious transactions before Akeredolu’s death.”

Ajulo further stated that as the Chief Law Officer of Ondo State, it must be seen that the state operates within the framework of the constitution and extant laws.

He added that all law enforcement and regulatory agencies in the state must be fully accountable.

The commissioner also expressed concern over attempts to withhold crucial information from Aiyedatiwa, warning that efforts to silence inquiries through blackmail and baseless accusations against the governor and some of his commissioners would not be tolerated.

He said “Only the guilty should fear.”

“Some vested interests have resorted to blackmail, alleging that Gov Aiyedatiwa is tarnishing the memory of late Gov. Akeredolu and attacking his nuclear and political family.

“But how? When? Where?. Some of these individuals have resorted to media attacks, yet they fail to explain why they continuously react without provocation,” Ajulo stated.

The commissioner noted that the late Akeredolu that I knew would never have allowed state funds to be exploited like this.

He called on those involved in the misappropriation of assets to come forward or face the full force of the law.

Ajulo commended Governor Aiyedatiwa for his pragmatic approach and visionary leadership, stressing that these had assisted in consolidating on the foundation laid in infrastructure development and upholding the rule of law.

According to him, Aiyedatiwa’s initiatives honoured the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu’s legacy, reinforcing a commitment to fairness and justice.

The attorney general said that a comprehensive audit of state assets would be conducted soon.

He said that the audit was aimed to restore accountability, and due process and ensure that public resources were effectively used for the benefit of all citizens of the state.