Bribery: Aiyedatiwa Sacks Aide, Orders Probe

Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State has dismissed from office the Special Assistant on Forestry (Central Senatorial District), Mr Adeboye Taofiq Ewenla, popularly known as Adedibu, for alleged bribery allegations rocking the department.

In a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan said the sack, which takes immediate effect, followed allegations of bribery and intimidation levelled against Ewenla by some timber merchants in the State.

Ewenla, aka Adedibu, who was recently appointed Special Assistant to Governor Aiyedatiwa on forestry, representing Ondo Central Senatorial district, allegedly demanded the sum of 30 million naira from timber traders in the state before they could be allowed to operate.

In a leaked telephone conversation, Ewenla allegedly asked a timber merchant to pick the option to either pay the said amount or be ready to contend with the government’s support for the trader’s competitors contesting the forestry space with them.

Ewenla who allegedly threatened the traders, could be overheard in the telephone conversation, insisting that the traders should bury the idea of embarking on any operation in the state if the money is not paid.

The trader in the conversation complained to Adedibu that his claim was unrealistic since the traders did not even realize such an amount of money as profit in a year.

He was said to have flared up, castigating the trader for his union’s unsettling silence, since the monetary demand was made, adding that the traders should have come to negotiate terms with him.

A member of timber said the traders may resort to self-help if the government did not listen to their demand, and there may be protests. He said arrangements are already in place to perfect what he called “the most suitable response to the exploitative demand of the government made to us through the aide of the governor.

However, Governor Aiyedatiwa ordered a probe into the activities of those saddled with the responsibility of managing forest reserves in the State.

Adeniyan said a replacement for M
Ewenla would be announced in due course. He added that the Governor urged all political appointees to conduct themselves in line with the provisions of the law and rules guiding their duties.
Source: New Telegraph