NIGERIA – Oyo State Chief Judge, Munta Abimbola swore in Bayo Lawal as the new deputy governor.
Until the swearing-in, Lawal was the chairman, Oyo State Housing Corporation. He was also recently announced as the running mate of Governor Seyi Makinde for the 2023 governorship election.
The swearing-in and oath of office taking was held at the Executive Chamber of the Governor’s Office, Agodi Secretariat, Ibadan.
The event followed the removal from office of the former deputy governor, Rauf Olaniyan, after the members of the House of Assembly adopted the report of the seven- man panel set up by the chief judge to investigate Olaniyan.
The panel, in the report, said Olaniyan was guilty of the allegations levelled against him, which included gross misconduct, insubordination, financial recklessness, abandonment of duties, among others.
Although, copies of the report were yet to be made public at press time, a source said some high points of the report that indicted Olaniyan had it that “a witness (PW2) named AbdulJelil Adekunle Kareem confirmed to have written a letter/petition dated 31st January, 2022 to the OYHA vide the Honourable Speaker and the petition was admitted and tendered as exhibit P3, which detailed his complaints against the Deputy Governor. He confirmed that his company AYOD Nigeria Ltd. secured a contract with Oyo State Government, but the respondent (deputy governor) has been on his neck on the contract sum, not allowing him to execute the contract, but forcing and coercing him to divert the contract sum to his private pocket. The witness confirmed payment of cash of N2,750,000,00 and N3,500,00,00 and another N4,000,000,00 to the deputy governor’s brother (one Mutaliu) on his instruction. He again informed the panel of the deputy governor’s intimidation, blackmail and harassment consequent upon his refusal to further part and agree to the diversion of the contract sum awarded to his company AYOD Nigeria Ltd. to the private pocket of the deputy governor. The same PW2 further informed the panel that the contract for the construction of the deputy governor’s lodge could not be duly executed consequent upon his insistence to personally collect the sum of N40,000,000,00 meant for the purchase of furniture for his lodge into his private pocket. The witness said this caused the non-completion and execution of the contract. He also informed the panel of other harassment, threat to his life and instigation of his detention by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at the instance of the deputy governor. PW3 Samuel Adegboyega Badejo, the Director General Protocol to the Executive Governor of Oyo State, who tendered exhibits P4, P5, P6A, P6B, P6C, P6D, P6E, P6F, P6G, P6H, P7A, P7B, P7C and P7D confirming messages forwarded to the Deputy Governor to attend events, occasions and state functions on the instructions of the Governor, but he refused and this amounted to insubordination. The PW1 was the Clerk of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Mrs. Yetunde Oludara Awe, who came to testify to the petition signed by 23 members of the assembly on allegations of financial recklessness and abuse of office among others. There was no cross examination of the witnesses, as the deputy governor did not attend the panel sitting or send a counsel.”
The swearing-in was attended by top government functionaries, Speaker Adebo Ogundoyin, who led other principal officers of the assembly, service commanders, party chieftains, among others.
