By Peter Adedoyin
The Ogun State House of Assembly has summoned the immediate past Chairman of Ewekoro local government area of the State, Mr. Sikiru Adesina over allegation of illegal sales of government and properties in the Council area.
The invitation of the former Chairman followed a petition forwarded to the Assembly by a group, under the aegis of 'Concerned Citizens of Ewekoro local government', accusing Adesina of engaging in unlawful sales of government land, neglect of public interest, failed accountability among others.
The petition, addressed to the Speaker and signed by Mr. Aderibigbe Ajani Kolapo, Secretary and Alhaji Kashimu Ashimiu, reads, "We, the undersigned citizens and stakeholders of Ewekoro Local Government hereby respectively submit this petition to express our grave concerns regarding the activities of the local government Chairmen during the period from Year 2021 to present. We accuse the Chairman of engaging in the illegal sale of government lands and properties perpetrated without due process or transparency".
"Over the past five years, it has come to our attention that there have been numerous transactions involving the sale of government properties under the purview of Ewekoro Local Government. These transactions have allegedly occurred without proper
authorization, adequate public notice, or adherence to established legal frameworks".
"Reports indicate that the Chairman has sold significant parcels of government lands to private individuals and entities without the necessary approvals from the Local Government Council or the relevant State authority ".
"Many of the transactions have been conducted in secrecy, with little no opportunity for community input or oversight. This fact of
transparency raises concerns about potential corruption and misappropriation of government resources"
"The portions in question hold significant value for community development and infrastructure. The unauthorized sales have deprived the citizens of Ewekoro Local Government of potential public amenities, economic
opportunities, and environmental benefits".
"Despite repeated requests for information regarding these transactions, the Chairman and his office have failed to provide satisfactory answers, further eroding public trust in local governance".
At the sitting of the Assembly's Committee on Public Accounts and Anti-corruption held at the Assembly's complex in Oke Mosan, Abeokuta, on Thursday, the Committee led by Hon. Bello Oluwadamilare grilled Head of the Local Government Area (HOLGA), Mrs. Kemi Ogunyewo for closed to two on the petition.
But in her response, Ogunyewo, who led four other career officers to the committee's sitting denied outright sales of the land, maintaining that the affected land were leased to companies and private individuals for a period of 99 years who signed to the payment of a paltry sum of N10,000 per annum on each acre for a period of 99 years.
Despite her defense, the Committee has directed Ogunyewo and other officials to provide the Assembly with details of the list of the entire land that belongs to the local government, either sold, leased and those still owned by the local government, with all necessary documents, list of projects executed by the local government between 2021 and 2024 and cost for each of the projects.
The committee also demanded that the Council's Engineer should forward to it, details of the inspection reports on the land leased so far.
It demanded that the Council's Treasurer should provide it with copies of correspondences to banks over their several inactive bank accounts.
While adjourning till next week Tuesday, the committee however, directed the immediate past Chairman of the council, Hon. Adesina to appear before it and answer some questions regarding the petition.
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