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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) may have started investigation into the allegation of diversion of local government funds levelled against Osun State governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.
This indication emerged after the EFCC invited Mr. Sulaiman Adeniyi, the Chairman, Civil Societies Coalition for the Emancipation of Osun State to come clarify some areas in the petition against the governor.
Akaninyene Ezima, EFCC’s Ibadan Zonal Head, said this in a letter of invitation sent to the Civil Societies Coalition for the Emancipation of Osun State.
According to the EFCC’s letter of invitation which was made available to The PUNCH correspondent in Osogbo on Sunday by Mr. Sulaiman Adeniyi, the Chairman of CSCEOS, the anti-corruption agency invited the group to come and clarify some areas in the petition against the governor.
A letter of invitation, written by Akaninyene Ezima, Head of the EFCC Ibadan Zonal office, was dated May 13, 2016. The letter with reference No: CR: 3000/EFCC/IB/T.B/VOL.1/79 was titled, “Investigation Activities: Acknowledgement/Invitation letter.”
It read:
“This is to acknowledge the receipt of your petition dated April 4, 2016, captioned Report of Illegal Diversion of 30 Local Governments’ monthly allocations by the Osun State Governor, Mr. Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola.
“Why Civil Societies Coalition for the Emancipation of Osun State is calling for investigation and stoppage of Releasing of Local Government monthly allocations to Osun State through Mr. Rauf Aregbesola and to inform you that investigation has commenced.
“In view of the above, you are hereby requested to report to the EFCC Zonal Office at No.16 Revd. Oyebode Crescent, Iyaganku, G.R.A., Ibadan, for an interview with the undersigned through the Head, Team B, on May 17, 2016, at 10am prompt.”
The governor and some of his aides have been alleged of diverting LG allocations by the human rights group in a petition to President Muhammadu Buhari.
The group had claimed that the governor suspended democratic structure in the councils and had mismanaged funds allocated to them.