The Ondo State House of Assembly has spoken on the reported allegations levelled against the Speaker of the Assembly, Bamidele Oleyelogun over N2.4 million seminar fraud.
It was reported this morning (Tuesday) that the convoy of the Speaker arriving the premises of the Olokuta Correctional centre in a scheduled arraignment over Fraud allegations which did not eventually hold as scheduled at the State High Court.
In a telephone interview, the Majority Leader of the Assembly, Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi said the Speaker was not inside the convoy sighted by Journalists, noting that Oleyelogun was not directly involved in the case, so he could not be true that he was arraigned.
Ogunmolasuyi said “Mr Speaker was not even in court and he was not directly involved in any financial transactions and you would later understand that there would not be any case against him after all.
“When the whole issue is resolved, you will realize that all that the media is saying was just plans by some individuals to tarnish his image. When I saw that, I was just laughing.
“The money in question was released in June last year but the Covid-19 lockdown stopped them from any seminar. The procedure to get any fund has always been difficult and that was why they resolved that the money should be used for another programme.
“There was even pressure from the former deputy speaker asking the speaker to share the money but he refused and after he was impeached, he thought of getting back on the speaker.
“Unfortunately the money in question had been refunded into the government coffers, the receipt is very available for you to see.”
It will be recalled that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had in March detained the Clerk of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Mr. Bode Adeyelu and three others staff for alleged N2.4 million seminar fraud.
Detained with the Clerk of the Assembly was the lawmaker representing Akoko South West I in the House, Felemu Bankole.
Also, two civil servants attached to the Assembly; Olusegun Kayode and Afolabi O. J. were detained over the alleged fraud.
They were said to have been kept at the detention facility of the EFCC in Lagos, while investigation continues on the alleged fraud.”
