Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa has sacked his Special Assistant on Forestry (Central Senatorial District), Adeboye Taofiq Ewenla, over a N30m bribery allegation levelled against him.
Ewenla dismissal was contained in a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan, who said the governor has also ordered a probe into the allegations against the former Special Assistant.
It was gathered that Ewenla had in a leaked audio demanded the sum of N30 million from timber traders operating in the state, threatening to expel them from the forest if they fail to pay the amount.
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Disturbed by the development, the timber traders vowed to embark on protest to register their displeasure and to let the governor know about the demand of the Special Assistant and the alleged claim that he was acting on Aiyedatiwa’s order.
The traders who were said to have expressed disbelief at the demand of Ewenla stressed that such an amount was unrealistic, as their profits do not reach that level in a year.
A member of the timber traders’ union, who spoke under anonymity, described the demand as unrealistic, criminal and oppressive.
He said “We are struggling to survive under harsh policies, and now they want to extort us with outrageous demands.”
Meanwhile, Aiyedatiwa, who disclosed that Ewenla will soon be replaced, stated that the activities of everyone manning the forest reserves across the state would be looked into.
He said, “The Governor of Ondo State, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has dismissed from office the Special Assistant on Forestry (Central Senatorial District), Mr. Adeboye Taofiq Ewenla, with immediate effect.
“This followed allegations of bribery and intimidation levelled against Mr. Ewenla by some timber merchants in the state.
“Governor Aiyedatiwa also ordered a probe into the activities of those saddled with the responsibility of managing forest reserves in the state.
“A replacement for Mr. Ewenla will be announced in due course. The Governor urged all political appointees to conduct themselves in line with the provisions of the law and rules guiding their duties.”
