On Wednesday, the Ogun State House of Assembly cleared the air over the invitation extended to former Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Alhaji Waheed Odusile; former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Alhaji Abiodun Awere; and the Director of Finance and Accounts for clarifications over alleged financial infractions.
The Nigerian Tribune recalls that the Assembly Committee on Public Accounts and Anti-Corruption, led by Hon. Damilare Bello, said the trio and the SSA to the Governor on Media, Emmanuel Ojo, were invited for clarifications on the audit report of the Ministry.
Bello issued the clarification during the committee’s meeting with the officials of the State Hospitals Management Board at the Assembly Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
The Committee Chairman, in company with other members including Honourables Musefiu Lamidi, Dickson Awolaja, Wahab Haruna, Yusuf Amosun, Folawewo Salami, Lawal Samsideen, and Waliu Owode, noted that the sitting was not meant to witch-hunt but to put the various ministries, departments, and agencies of government on their toes in the prudent management of government resources.
He recalled that at the last sitting of the Committee, there was misinformation in some sections of the media insinuating fraudulent practices, cautioning that the Committee had not indicted anyone but was merely considering issues raised in the audit reports with a view to addressing them.
He stated, “On Monday at our last sitting, there was misinformation that this Honourable House has indicted the ex-Commissioner and the SSA (Media), but we have not indicted anyone. We have only used the media to invite them for clarification on the Auditor General reports in line with our constitutional responsibilities.
“It is important to note that this House has no reason to witch-hunt anyone. We are only making sure the people see our governor working alongside the legislators with the right procedure to achieve all the lofty government policies and programmes,” he stated.
He urged the public to disregard the scandal rumour, saying not everything found in the media space might be the right picture of things coming from the Assembly.
He called on the heads of MDAs to work together with the Assembly to block all leakages and help promote accountability and transparency in the running of government in the state.
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