Osun LGA To Drag Council Chairman Before EFCC Over N18m Land Fund, I Did Not Sell Any Land, Alleged Chairman Says

By Ayobami Agboola, Osogbo

The All Progressive Congress in Ife North Local Government area of Osun State on Tuesday insisted that the suspended Chairman of the Council, Hon Taiwo Orosanya, must explain the whereabouts of the sum of N18 million naira he allegedly diverted into his own personal account after selling a parcel of land belonging to the government.

APC Chairman, Elders’ Committee, Ife North Local Government Council, Prince Molade Binuyo said at a press conference in Osogbo that the party would not hesitate to drag Orosanya to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission if his explanation on the whereabouts of the fund was not satisfactory.

Flanked by other members of the Elders’ Committee from the local government, Binuyo said Orosanya allegedly sold state government’s acquired landed properties at Sagi, Ife/Ibadan Expressway Ipetumodu at the rate of 18 million naira and allegedly diverted the sum of 13 million naira to his personal account while just a sum of five million naira was remmitted into the Council’s account.

He said Orosanya who had earlier been suspended by the Osun State House of Assembly for two months following a petition by the Parliamentarians for failing to give an account of the finances of the council’s fund resumed office knowing vividly that he was still under suspension.

Binuyo insisted that Orosanya was still on suspension and under no any circumstances must he continue to parade himself as the Chairman of that local government.

While reacting, Orosanya denied the allegation, saying he did not sell any land and no money was diverted to his own personal account.

He said he resumed back office after he has served his compulsory two months suspension slammed against him by the House of Assembly, saying his resumption was within the confines of the law.

Orosanya said, “I didn’t sell any government acquired landed property because I’m not in the position to do so. I have my bank account and council has its own, so how would I divert local government fund to my own account?. I resumed office after I have served the compulsory two months suspension slammed against me by the House of Assembly.

“I am not aware of any other allegations by the party leadership in my local government. I’m not aware that I have been suspended at the ward level. We have met with the Governor and party Chairman, Prince Gboyega Famodun and other party leaders were also at the level of that meeting where the matter was settled by our amiable governor.

However, Binuyo said, the embattled Chairman stands to answer to new revelations about his misdeeds, adding that “while away on suspension, another investigation into Orosanya’s activities exposed more of his misdemeanors, adding that , how could he now return to insist that the Governor and the Speaker of the House of Assembly have both given him a clean bill when neither or the House has approved his reinstatement?

“Taiwo Orosanya was suspended from office as the Chairman of Ife North Local Government on May 4, 2020, for embezzlement. That decision came after the report of the Committee set up by the Parliament of the Council to look into the Finances of the Council indicted him for misappropriating millions of naira.

“The Parliament of the local government passed a vote of no confidence on Taiwo and opted to relieve him for six months.
The party (APC) endorsed it. The House of Assembly in Osogbo, our state capital also ratified the decision. Somehow, the suspension was reduced to two months in Osogbo.

“Honourable Yeba Ayoola was asked to step in as Acting Chairman of Ife North Local Government. This was the status quo until last Friday when the suspended Taiwo stormed the local government secretariat claiming that he was back in office.

“He said his punishment was over. He said he had served the two-month disciplinary action. His defence is that he had entered into a truce with Governor Gboyega Oyetola of Osun State and some elders of the party in Ife North Local Government. But we the elders of the party are not aware of any such settlement. Taiwo Orosanya has also not helped matters. He has not presented any document to that effect.

“Now, the Acting Chairman has distanced himself from Taiwo’s claims, saying there has been no communication asking him to step aside for Taiwo. He has asked for calm as he emphasizes that he, Yeba Ayoola, is still in charge in Ife North Local Government. In fact, he has warned the suspended officer to desist from parading himself as chairman of the council.

“While the suspension of Taiwo Orosànya was on, the party Executive at the ward level suspended him from APC party for other gross misconduct which had to do with state government’s acquired landed properties at Sagi, Ife/Ibadan expressway, Ipetumodu.

This suspension was communicated to the local executive and ratified. The elders forum considered the suspension and also ratified it. This has been communicated to the State party Executive. The position of the APC party constitution is that a suspended party member cannot hold position either appointed or elected. Therefore with the suspension, Orosànya Taiwo remains suspended.

“What is at play is the antics of corruption which has been proved over and over as the bane of our nation. We want to draw the attention of the world to the fact that our party has been in the forefront of the struggle against corruption and abuse of office at all levels of office.

“We came into office on that mantra. We have been thus far on that podium. It follows therefore that to continue holding our ground and earn the people’s confidence, we must continue functioning under that banner.

“You cannot drop your winning strategy, likewise, a wise football coach must not change his trophy-grabbing squad. In view of the aforesaid argument, we the elders of the party and well-meaning citizens of our dear Ife North LG have come together to denounce the pranks of Taiwo Orosànya to desist from further tarnishing the integrity of our great party and communities.

“We urge those pushing him in his game of brinkmanship to stay away from the antipathy and anti-social activities. When the ships are down at the end of the day, it is not only Orosanya who will be consumed. Our party will suffer grave losses, while our people will experience instability. We plead with the leaders of our great party to call Orosanya to order before he drags us all into the avoidable he is needlessly brewing for himself.