Alleged misappropriation: Ekiti may drag VC, provost, others before EFCC

Ekiti state government has indicated its intention to drag heads of some tertiary academic and health institutions in the state before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged abuse of office. Governor Kayode Fayemi on assumption of office set up visitation panels to investigate financial activities of Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti (EKSU); […]

Ekiti state government has indicated its intention to drag heads of some tertiary academic and health institutions in the state before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged abuse of office.

Governor Kayode Fayemi on assumption of office set up visitation panels to investigate financial activities of Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti (EKSU); College of Education, Ikere Ekiti; College of Science and Health Technology, Ijero; Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti (EKSUTH) and the Broadcasting Service of Ekiti State (BSES).

The panels had since submitted their reports which indicted the managements of the institutions, Daily Trust learnt.

Briefing newsmen in Ado Ekiti on Saturday after a two-day state executive council meeting presided over by Governor Fayemi, his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Yinka Oyebode, said the council considered the white paper on each of the institutions and took far reaching decisions on them.

All the managements, according to the government, were indicted for financial recklessness.

Oyebode said part of the decisions taken was that, the government must set up functional governing councils in all the institutions to be able to implement panels’ decisions in line with the laws.

By implications, those that may either be removed or prosecuted by anti-graft agencies are: the Vice Chancellor of EKSU, Prof Samuel Oye Bandele, Provost of the College of Education, Prof Mojisola Oyarekua, former Director General of BSES and Fayose’s Media Aide, Lere Olayinka, EKSUTH Chief Medical Director, Dr Kolawole Ogundipe and ex-Provost of College of Health Science and Technology, Ijero Ekiti, Pastor David Ojo.

Oyebode said: “the Ekiti State executive council during its meeting of Wednesday and Friday of January 17 and 19 respectively received the white paper on the recommendations of the visitation panels by each of the institutions in the state and gave approval for their implementations.

“Council observed a general trend of leadership and administrative challenges in the institutions.

“It also observed abuse of office and financial recklessness in some of the institutions.

“It was decided that government would take immediate steps to put in place governing councils in the five institutions that will be saddled with the responsibility of implementing the recommendations contained in the white paper.

“The state government is committed to ensuring that all institutions in the state are repositioned for excellent service delivery”, he stated.

However, Oyebode did not go into the details of the recommendations, but it was gathered that many of the affected heads of the institutions will be arrested and prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

It was also revealed that some will be made to make refunds for alleged misappropriation of funds.