Ogun Assembly Invites Ex Information Commissioner Over Alleged Financial Infractions
A former Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Ogun State, Mr Waheed Odusile has been invited by the Ogun State House of Assembly Committee on Public Accounts and Anti-Corruption over allegations of financial infractions contained in the audit reports of the ministry under his watch.
The Committee also invited a former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mr. Abiodun Awere and the Director of Finance and Accounts who served in the Ministry between 2021 and 2022 to appear alongside the Commissioner on Thursday, 29th of February, 2024 by 1.00pm.
Chairman of the Committee, Mr Damilare Bello announced the invite while considering the Ministry’s audited reports for the years 2021 and 2022 as well as the financial records as presented by the incumbent Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Waheed Adesina at the Assembly Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
Mr Bello and other members of the committee said the invited officials were expected to appear before the Committee to provide further information on various infractions regarding 92.9 million naira released to the ministry from the Governor’s contingency fund as supplementary funds for the expenditures of the Ministry.
The Committee also directed the Ministry’s Director of Finance and Accounts to furnish the Committee with further details on the transfer of N2.51m transferred to the personal accounts of the Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Ojo Emmanuel for the purchase of new working tools for the state Media Team.
Responding, the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Adesina assured the Committee that efforts were been made to address the issues raised in the audit report, promising that the Ministry would comply with all directives with a view to continually promoting accountability and transparency in running the affairs of the Ministry.
In a related development, The Chairman of the Committee had also directed the former Director, Administration and Supplies in the State Library Board as well as his Finance and Accounts counterpart to appear before the Committee for further clarification on some issues raised in the reports of the Auditor General for the period.
The Committee also sought for the submission of supporting documents including minutes of Tender Board meeting and invoices on some budget heads, with a directive to the internal auditor to report to the Committee within the next seven days.
