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Groups Differ Over Osun Finances, Aregbesola’s Probe

Published

4 years ago

March 16, 2022

A group, The Osun Masterminds, has asked for a probe into the finances of Osun State during the tenure of Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, as the governor of the state.

The group also called on the state governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, to speak about the state of the government that he inherited, saying the people deserve to know.

Speaking against the backdrop of a sharp drop in the monthly allocation accruable to the state, TOM’s Executive Director, Dr. Wasiu Alli-Oyeniyi, in a statement in Osogbo on Tuesday, expressed concern over deficit of N375 million that the state got from the Federation Account in February 2022.

He said, “In the month ended February 2022, Osun State Government received a negative allocation of N-375million from the FAAC, out of a possible N1.45bn. The implication of this is that the state will be paying back an extra sum of N375million from next month’s allocation, plus the deductions already waiting in that month.

“The governor, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, must as a matter of importance and the very near future, speak about the state of the government he inherited. The state’s people deserve to know why their state is in the state of affliction that it presently is. When the people can rightly appropriate blame, working together to get out of the quagmire becomes easier.

“The state government needs to, as a matter of urgency, conduct a financial sustainability exercise that will look into the core areas of finances of the state, the capacity it has for survival and the steps it needs to take to correct past errors.

“Such exercise may necessarily include a probe of the past administration’s financial actions, with a view to issuing necessary white papers where necessary, to reprimand persons found guilty of poor actions.”

But reacting, another group, Progressives Minded Forum, in a statement signed by its Coordinator, Sunday Oriowo, accused the state government of sponsoring The Osun Masterminds to discredit Aregbesola.

The PMF, however, supported the call asking Oyetola to tell the people of the state the actual debt profile when he took over power in 2018, the repayment method and projects that the loans were expended on.

The group also challenged Oyetola to disclose deductions which made the state to receive negative allocation from FAAC and the actual amount being generated as Internally Generated Revenue.

“Mr Governor sir, members of the public would like to know ‘other deductions’ which put the state into negative in the February allocation. The people will also like to know how you have been funding the little projects you have embarked upon since all your claim is ‘there is no money in the state.’

“Besides, it is pathetic that a supposed objective group would close its eyes to the non-disclosure of N11.9bn refund to the Osun State government on Federal Government projects executed by Aregbesola, but rather continue to blame the former governor for the debt,” Oriowo said.

Reacting, the state Commissioner for Information, Funke Egbemode, said Oyetola’s government did not sponsor any group to attack or demand Aregbesola’s probe.

She said, “The Osun Masterminds is not an agency of government in Osun. We didn’t sponsor anybody.

“If people are saying the truth, say they are saying the truth. If they lie against you, defend yourself. Don’t leave the message and the messenger and be chasing shadows.”

PUNCH

Related Topics:Aregbesola Osun Osun Finances

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MOWAA: Okpehbolo Receives Edo Assembly Resolution Indicting Obaseki

Published

57 minutes ago

December 24, 2025

Editor

Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, received report and resolutions of the Edo State House of Assembly which indicted former Governor Godwin Obaseki on the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) and the Radisson Hotel projects.

Recall that the Edo Assembly raised a five-man committee to investigate funding and ownership of both projects following a request by Governor Okpebholo.

Okpebholo, who spoke after receiving the report said its findings and recommendations would be fully implemented.

Okpebholo said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) would be invited to further examine issues raised in the recommendations.

According to him, the Edo State Government has significant stakes in the MOWAA and Radisson Blu hotel having invested ₦3.8bn respectively in both projects.

He said changes in the structure and nomenclature of the MOWAA project made the investigation unavoidable.

Okpebholo said it was unacceptable to suggest Edo State has only 10 per cent stake in the Radisson Blu hotem despite investing over ₦28bn.

“Edo State has spent over ₦3.8 billion on this project, yet some people are saying the state has no stake in it. That is totally unacceptable. I will work with your recommendations and forward them to the relevant authorities to investigate what truly happened. We will also involve the EFCC.

“Our investment in this project is over ₦28 billion. We must invite the EFCC to step in and determine if this is how businesses are conducted in Nigeria,” he said.

In its recommendations passed by the Assembly, the five-man committee headed by Hon Addeh Isibor, urged the Edo State Government to take possession of both projects.

It asked Governor Okpebholo to contract competent hands to complete renovation of the Hotel and take all steps to put the Hotel to use.

The recommendations urged the Edo State Government to revoke “the fraudulent Certificate of Occupancy to the property issued in the name of Hospitality Investment and Management Company Limited and revert same to the Edo State Government that purchased the property.

“That the Edo State Government initiate legal action and work with relevant Anti-graft Agencies to retrieve both the complete statement of account and the balance of the Seventeen Billion, Five Hundred Million Naira (N17,500,000,000.00) Bond proceeds still in the possession of the Escrow Agents. Meristen Trustees Limited and Emerging Africa Trustees Limited.

“The title to the MOWAA Property having never been revoked, same remains the property of the Central Hospital, Benin City

“That the Edo State Government immediately takes all necessary step to put the property to good use in the best and overriding public interest of the people of Edo State.”

Speaker of the Assembly, Hon. Blessing Agbebaku, said the facts about MOWAA and Radisson Blu Hotel were now clearly documented in resolutions and outcomes.

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Sheikh Gummi Sues Two Over Alleged False Facebook Publication

Published

3 hours ago

December 24, 2025

Editor

Prominent Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmad Gummi, has approached the Chief Magistrate Court in Kaduna, seeking the issuance of a criminal direct complainant summons against two Facebook users over alleged criminal conspiracy, attempt to cause public disturbance and criminal defamation.

The application, filed at the Chief Magistrate Court sitting on Ibrahim Taiwo Road, Kaduna, listed the defendants as George Udom and Bello Isiaka.

According to him, the defendants allegedly published a “Breaking News” statement on their respective Facebook pages on December 23, 2025, between 7:00 am and 10:00 am, attributed to him, threatening that the family of the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa, would be eliminated if military operations against bandits were not stopped.

Gummi alleged that the publication was falsely attributed to him, as his photograph was allegedly used alongside the statement, giving the impression that he issued the threat against the Defence Minister.

The Islamic scholar stated that following the publication, he received numerous phone calls from concerned members of the public who believed he authored the statement and was attempting to intimidate the Minister of Defence in the discharge of his official duties.

He further maintained that the publication portrayed him as a troublemaker and a threat to public peace, despite his long-standing reputation as a cleric known for preaching peace and harmony within and outside Nigeria.

The complainant argued that the alleged publication was capable of inciting public disorder in Kaduna State, particularly Southern Kaduna, and could expose him to danger by presenting him as a prime suspect in the event of any attack on the Defence Minister’s family.

He also contended that the actions of the defendants amounted to an attempt to cause public disturbance and criminal defamation of his character.

Dr Gummi told the court that the alleged acts contravened Sections 59, 57, 372, 116 and 117 of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017.

The application, dated December 24, 2025, was filed by a team of lawyers led by Suleiman Danlami Lere, with the complainant urging the court to summon the defendants to answer to the allegations.

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JUST IN: Kano Lawmaker, Sarki Aliyu Daneji, Dies Hours After Colleague’s Passing

Published

4 hours ago

December 24, 2025

Editor

Hon. Sarki Aliyu Daneji, the lawmaker representing Kano Municipal in the Kano State House of Assembly, died on Wednesday, barely hours after the death of his colleague, Hon. Aminu Sa’adu Ungogo.

The Director-General, Media and Public Relations, Government House, Kano, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, confirmed Daneji’s death to journalists in Kano.

Daneji’s demise came shortly after the passing of Hon. Ungogo, who was the Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations and represented Ungogo Local Government in the Assembly. Ungogo, a member of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), reportedly died after a brief illness.

He was said to have been at the Kano State House of Assembly earlier in the day, attending a committee meeting before his death.

The sudden loss of the two lawmakers within a short interval has thrown the Kano State House of Assembly into mourning, with colleagues, party members and constituents expressing shock and grief over the tragic development.