Osun APC, Adeleke bicker over TETFUND contract

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has called on the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate Kazeem Akinleye, Osun State Chief of Staff.

This follows allegations by the Osun APC that Akinleye used his closeness to the state government to secure a two hundred and ninety-seven million naira (N297m) Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) contract at Osun State University (UNIOSUN).

In a statement signed by Kola Olabisi, Osun APC Director of Media and Information on Saturday, the party stated that Akinleye’s actions and behavior as a public officer did not conform to the highest standards of public morality and accountability.

The party alleged that he has put himself in a position where his personal interest conflicted with his duties and responsibilities as the administrative head of the office of the Governor of Osun State, in breach of the provisions of the Code of Conduct (Part 1, Section 5 of the Act).

“His justification elsewhere that he resigned from the company as a Director on September 1, 2022, shortly after he was appointed Chief of Staff does not hold water, as the management of the company still revolves around the members of his immediate family, as an investigation at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) revealed.

“Similarly, the other excuse of the Chief of Staff, that the contract in question is a federal job within the TETFUND for which the company has all the legal rights to handle, is an afterthought and mere misinformation invented to confuse and wriggle his way out of the contract logjam.

“We, as a party, are reminding Akinleye that TETFUND has nothing to do with the procurement of the project. It is solely the responsibility of the institution whose Governing Council’s members are direct appointees of the governor.

“So, whether Akinleye is a former director or a current director in AKINKAS INTERBIZ LIMITED with registration number 770848, registered on September 3, 2008, with address number 290, Station Road, Ede, Osun State, is not relevant.

“We enjoin the Code of Conduct Bureau to invite, investigate, and possibly prosecute the said Akinleye as empowered by Parts 1, 3 (e) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended). We also appeal to all patriots within and outside the state to rise above political sentiments and speak vehemently against this clear abuse of power and contravention of the procurement laws of the state.”

Responding, the Spokesperson to Governor Ademola Adeleke, Olawale Rasheed, described the allegation as a ridiculous concoction.

Stressing that the allegations against the governor’s Chief of Staff were baseless, Rasheed added that Akinleye has not violated any provisions of the Code of Conduct.

He urged members of the public to discountenance the Osun APC, describing them as “failed men of yesterday.”

He also added that the Ademola Adeleke-led administration is committed to upholding and enforcing due process.

The statement reads, “As a public officer, the Chief of Staff has not deployed his office to, in any way, favor himself, especially as he is not a member of the governing board of Osun State University nor a member of the board of directors of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND).

“Specifically, Hon. Akinleye had effectively ceased to be a director of the mentioned company even before his appointment as Chief of Staff and so cannot in any way be held accountable for the business operations of the said company.

“The Chief of Staff has never sat at any meeting or board deliberation where such a contract was determined and is therefore by all accounts not in breach of any provisions of the Code of Conduct or any subsisting laws of the land.

“We note with disdain the reprehensible desperation of the opposition to destroy the vibrant and world-class Osun State University, which is running its affairs in line with best practices and in compliance with its establishment laws.

“We assert with all confidence that Hon. Akinleye has not in any way abused his office as he mainly applies himself to discharging his official duties as Chief of Staff to the Governor, which does not include contract solicitation and influence for and/or on behalf of any personality, be it natural or corporate.”