…..Govt panel indicted affected officers
Some top staff of Ondo State owned Owena Press Limited, publisher of The Hope newspaper, including a top management staff, have been quizzed by the Ondo State Public Complaints, Financial Crimes, and Anti-Corruption Commission (SPFACC) which has launched full investigation into allegations of certificate forgery and age falsification scandal at the state-owned media establishment.
It was gathered that a top management staff, Akinjeji Bamikole Daniel, former Administrative Manager of the establishment who is a very influential senior officer at the company, was quizzed for several hours by the Anti-graft agency on Wednesday at its Akure Headquarters.
Akinjeji was alleged to have doctored key documents in their personal files, including birth certificates.
Investigations had revealed that the management staff was alleged to have altered his declared date of birth in order to extend his service years in the company by an additional four years.
The management staff was alleged to have resorted to falsifying records shortly after the Ondo State Government approved the new minimum wage for the state workforce, with the aim of benefitting from the scheme for a longer period.
Implicating records showed that the top management staff would be due for retirement in July next year, according to the information he earlier submitted, while another staff, Omotosho Comfort Idowu (personal secretary of the company’s Chairman), who was due for retirement in July this year, still remains in service after allegedly falsifying her records.
Sources hinted that the affected staff allegedly swore to another affidavit earlier this year to cover up the discrepancies, which contradicted earlier affidavits and other personal data they submitted during the 2018 screening exercise carried out by the state government.
It was gathered that the chairman of the company, Kayode Fasua, set up a probe panel on the alleged age and credentials falsification to allow for a thorough investigation into the matter.
The panel comprised officials from the Ondo State Office of Establishments and Training, Ministry of Information and Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo.
The panel invited all the members of staff in May this year to present themselves for screening with necessary documents.
It was gathered that the panel report submitted early August, 2025 indicted the affected staff of age falsification but they were being shielded by the headship of the media outfit from being punished in line with public service regulations
Sources also confirmed that the Chairman of the establishment, Mr. Kayode Fasua, was also invited by the Anti-graft agency to explain his involvement in the falsification allegations, especially his refusal to implement the Report of the Government’s Panel that indicted the top officer at the company.
In addition to the forgery scandal, two Hilux vehicles belonging to the state government were also said to have gone missing from the company’s premises when Akinjeji served as the Administrative Manager, raising fresh concerns.
Recall that Owena Press has a chequered history of financial scandals despite repeated government interventions. The 2017 embezzlement saga and the current forgery allegations have renewed calls for urgent government action.
Some labour leaders in the state, who did not want their names in the press but are fully aware of the ugly situation at the company, urged the Ondo State Governor, Dr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, to place the administrative department of the media outfit under the State Head of Service or the Civil Service Commission to curb further illegal practices such as falsification of age, arbitrary promotions, and demotions, while converting the media outfit to a Government’s Corporation should be fast tracked.
When contacted for reaction, the Secretary of the State anti-graft Commission, Prof Adewole Adeyeye, confirmed probing of age and certificate scandal at the Owena Press but declined further comment.
