HOUSE LEADER of the immediate past Kwara State House of Assembly, Hassan Oyeleke has denied knowledge of the purported looting of the state treasury to the tune of about five billion naira by the 24 ousted law makers and some individuals.
The Ilorin Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission last week, said it had uncovered how the ex-lawmakers, the immediate past Commissioner for Finance, Ademola Banu and some companies allegedly swindled the state of about five billion naira through the Kwara State Internal Revenue Service between 2015 to 2019.
The state was awash last week of EFCC reports that the immediate past Chairman of the Kwara State Internal Revenue Service, Professor Muritala Awodun, a former member of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Mr. Moshood Bakare and some staff of the Kwara State Internal Revenue Service were arrested and being interrogated by the EFCC operatives to unravel the fraud.
But in a reaction to the allegations, Oyeleke, who represented Essa/Shawo/Igboidun Constituency, Offa Local Government Area refuted the EFCC’s claims in its totality. In a statement titled Putting the record straight, Hassan said: “I wish to categorically deny any knowledge of such arrangement. If it is true that such arrangement existed at all, I , Hon. Hassan Oyeleke of Essa /Shawo/ Igboidun constituency, Offa Local Government Area vehemently deny awareness or collection of any Kobo from such deal.
“That I hereby challenge EFCC and the purported claimant on the issue. I hereby loudly say that the assertion is untrue, derogatory, defamatory and infliction of injury on innocent souls.
“Once again, I did not collect any Kobo from KWIRS!
The report said it was discovered during investigations that about five companies linked to highly placed politicians in Kwara State benefited about four billion naira from the money without any valid contractual agreements with the State.
Other beneficiaries in the monies include, all the former twenty four members of the Kwara State House of Assembly including the speaker, Doctor Ali Ahmad, former Commissioner for Finance, Ademola Banu, ex Kwara State Accountant General, Ishola Sulyman, Permanent Secretaries among others.
It was further disclosed that a staff of the Kwara State Internal Revenue Service, while being interrogated by the operatives of the Commission said the house of assembly members were collecting four million naira monthly for public relations and shared among themselves
According to him, the former Kwara State Commissioner for Finance, Ademola Banu was collecting five million naira every month and if the money was not taken to his home, he won’t approve any document taken to him.
On his part, Mr. Bakare, a former Chairman of House Committee on appropriation and finance said they sent four million naira monthly into the account of his personal assistant who is presently being detained by the EFCC, who will then withdraw the money and give it to him.
He said the money was always handed over to the Speaker, Ali Ahmad monthly, who would now share it to all the members.
He further stated that some members collected the money in cash, while some will insist that the money should be transferred into their accounts.
It was further discovered, according to the report, that a Personal Assistant to the Former Governor of Kwara State, Rafiu Olasile received the sum of ten million naira cash from one of the aides to ex Chairman of House Committee on Appropriation and Finance.
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