Assets Recovery: Osun Committee Chases Past Appointees
Osun State government says all government assets/vehicles that are in the possession of the political appointees of the past administration, which are not captured in the express provisions must be returned to the Osun State Government.
The Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Teslim Igbalaye who stated this while addressing Journalists on the progress of the Assets Recovery and Auditing committee at the Exco lounge, Governor’s office, Abere, Osun State, said due diligence will remain a priority.
“It was imperative for the committee to go through due process after the inauguration. Government properties like vehicles, buildings which were illegally possessed must be returned to the Osun state Government immediately”
Alhaji Igbalaye who is the Chairman, Osun State Asset Recovery Committee, noted that the committee will abide by the provisions of the law, “the Executive Governor had the prerogative power to allow any political appointee go home with his/her official vehicle, having served for at least a period of two (2) years and payment of some amount of money into the coffers of the government, and if the vehicle was less than four (4) years old, the appointee would pay 10% of the residual value of such official vehicle.
“That the approval granted by the immediate past Executive Governor for the release and eventual ownership of the official vehicles (kia cars) allocated to members of the immediate past Osun State Executive Council followed due process”
The Committee Chairman who reiterated that the committee is not out to witch-hunt anybody but will follow due process to recover all looted assets of the government, said any official who went away with government vehicles outside the provisions is illegal.
He maintained that the task force consists of legal and security representatives who are mandated to make sure that operations are carried out in respect to the rule of law.
The SSG assured the people of Osun State that the committee would adhere strictly to the rule of law while carrying out its mandate as well as keep them abreast of developments.
