Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has constituted an eight-member panel to address alleged contract irregularities during the tenure of former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola.
The panel’s primary objective is to implement the findings and recommendations outlined in the report and white paper produced by a previous committee responsible for reviewing the awarded contracts.
The newly appointed panel has been assigned a crucial role, which includes overseeing the prosecution of individuals implicated in the irregularities through appropriate legal channels. Additionally, the panel is expected to diligently execute all institutional recommendations to safeguard against future distortions in the awarding and management of contracts.
Among the members of the committee are prominent figures such as Kolapo Alimi, the Commissioner for Information; Oluwole Jimi-Bada, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice; Dosu Babatunde, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters; Jola Akintola, the Commissioner for Health; Bashiru Bello, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure; and Bello Sheriff, the Senior Special Assistant on Bureau of Social Services.
Governor Adeleke, upon assuming office, raised concerns about significant corruption related to contracts awarded by the previous administration. Consequently, he issued an executive order to establish the contract review committee. The current panel has been entrusted with the responsibility of implementing the recommendations put forth in the committee’s report and the subsequent white paper, which received approval from the State Executive Council.
The panel’s terms of reference encompass enforcing the recommendations outlined in the committee’s report and white paper, pursuing legal actions against those implicated in the irregularities through appropriate agencies, and executing all institutional recommendations to prevent future distortions in the process of awarding and managing contracts.
When approached for comment, Tajudeen Lawal, the Osun State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), criticized the governor’s actions, describing them as an attempt to conceal his alleged mismanagement of state resources. Lawal pointed out that it was ironic that an administration that had previously awarded road and flyover contracts without adhering to due process was now establishing an implementation panel for the white paper on the contract review committee.
Lawal questioned the timing of the governor’s decision, suggesting that it coincided with the APC’s accusations regarding the awarding of state road and flyover contracts to Adeleke’s relatives. He urged Governor Adeleke to exercise caution, emphasizing that the people of Osun State were now more discerning and astute in understanding the underlying motives behind his actions, which appeared to unjustly target the opposition for raising concerns about the government’s alleged fraudulent practices under the guise of prosecuting legacy projects.