The Oyo State House of Assembly on Wednesday debunked allegations that its accounts have been frozen by the Economic Financial and Crimes Commission (EFCC).
In a statement by the chairman, House Committee on Information, Mr Kazeem Olayanju, said that neither the Assembly’s account nor those of any of its directors had been frozen by the EFCC, contrary to reports circulating on the social media.
It charged journalists to always seek clarification on any information before publication to avoid misleading their readers.
Olayanju said that the report was not only misleading, but had also discredited the principles and values of the ninth Oyo State House of Assembly.
Olayanju said: “Recently, the EFCC invited some top staff of the House over a petition on how we bought our official cars as state lawmakers.
“They appeared, answered all questions and all necessary documents were presented for accountability sake, and that was all.
“The assembly has been running all its legislative duties in line with the laid down procedures.
“We hold plenaries, perform oversight functions to the best of our ability, and ultimately, doing our best for the entire Oyo State.
“Where do we get funds to run the day-to-day activities if the accounts of the assembly have been frozen?
“We want to appeal to journalists and every media practitioner to be more professional and always put the ethics of the job first.
“They play a crucial role in our democracy and should always do their best in the interest of the people.
“The House is open; the office of the Speaker is open, and our lines are always available for clarification on any information, to ensure that their reports are objective, balanced and factual.”