The Osun State Government has dismissed a petition by a group, Osun Youths Initiative for Good Governance (OYIGG), calling on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to invite the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Alhaji Kazeem Akinleye, and the Accountant-General of the State, Mr Rasheed Olalere Alabi, over alleged diversion of funds.
In a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, the state government, noted that the allegations of “multi-billion naira infrastructure fraud,” “mismanagement of public funds,” “impropriety in project execution,” and “diverting sundry monies received by the State from the Federal Government without legislative approval” are baseless, spurious, malicious, unfounded and entirely lacking in substance.
Alimi noted that allegations made against the Chief of Staff and the Accountant-General of the State were devoid of factual or legal foundation.
“These allegations are not only deliberately misleading, but betray either a shocking ignorance of the constitutional framework governing public finance in Nigeria or a wilful attempt to misinform the public and malign public officials discharging their duties in accordance with extant laws and established financial regulations,” he noted.
The statement further stated that at no time has the Chief of Staff to the Governor and the state Accountant General diverted any public funds, whether directly or by proxy.
“The attempt to rope the Office of the Chief of Staff into concocted allegations of financial diversion is as ridiculous as it is malicious.
“Similarly, the allegation against the Accountant-General of the State, Mr Rasheed Olalere Alabi, is patently false, defamatory and unsustainable,” Alimi added.
The statement noted that the current administration has maintained an unwavering commitment to transparency, accountability, due process and prudent financial management.
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