The Civil Societies Coalition for the Emancipation of Osun State on Tuesday at the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Ibadan alleged that Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State and his aides diverted Federal Allocation meant for the 30 local government areas in the state.
The group in its petition to President Muhammdu Buhari and the EFCC also alleged that most of the projects embarked upon by the governor on behalf of the councils did not exist.
According to the Chairman of the group, Mr. Sulaiman Adeniyi said, “I urge the anti-graft commission to invite all the affected state and LG officials listed. They include the immediate past Commissionerfor Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Kolapo Alimi; Commissioner for Finance and Economic Planning, Mr. Wale Bolorunduro; their permanent secretaries, the then executive secretaries and Head of LG Administrations, directors of finance and directors of works.
“No section of the amended 1999 Constitution gives leeway to any governor to divert the allocations accrued to the LG from the Federation Account through the joint account system.
”Adeniyi alleged further that Governor Aregbesola contracted the payment of salaries of councils’ staff, including primary and middle school teachers and council retirees to a private firm, Charms Consultancy Ltd, which charged N4m per month for each of the councils.
He said, “This amounts to N120m per month since 2011 till date for service rendered when all the councils have director of finance, deputy director of finance, accountant, treasurer, cashier and other officers that can render the service of payment of salaries.
“The governor still owes local government staff five months salaries even though the councils have received their monthly allocations up to the month of April.”
