Witness tells probe panel how ex-gov Fayemi allegedly deducted N18bn from state allocation

A witnessed testifying before the Judicial Commission of Inquiry set up by Ekiti State government to look into the state’s finances from October 2010 to September 2014, on Monday narrated how former governor of the state, Kayode Fayemi, allegedly deducted N18, 684, 785, 314,75 from the state allocation.

Mr. Kehinde Odunayo, who was the first to testify before the commission which commenced proceedings on Monday at the Magistrate Court 1, Ado-Ekiti, said that a total sum of N163, 267,220,048.07 was received from the Federation Account while N49, 483, 156,394.80 was borrowed by Fayemi’s government.

Odunayo, from the Accountant General’s office read to the commission month by month statutory allocation received by the government during the tenure of Dr. Kayode Fayemi and tendered documents to back his claims.

Mr Odunayo, who was led in evidence by counsel to the Commission, Mr Sunday Bamise listed the banks from which the 20 different loans were said to have been obtained.

According to Kehinde “as at the time Fayemi left office in 2014, that debt incurred from outstanding workers’ emoluments, comprising pensions, subventions to schools, among others was N13, 819, 928,727, 92.”

According to him, the total deductions from FAAC allocations in the time under review, under the last administration was N18, 684, 785, 314, 75 and was allegedly deducted in 48 months.

Another witness, Mr. Arogundade Victor, who is the Director of State and Finances, of the Ministry of Finance also gave details of loans in the state between 2010-2014.

Arogundade Victor Adeyinka, who works at the state Ministry of Finance, tendered a document that indicated how the N25 billion bond was allegedly expended.

Read also: DIEZANI: Fed. High Court orders final forfeiture of N7.6bn kept in Sterling Bank

According to him, the breakdown of the N20 billion first tranche of the bond indicated that a sum of N468 million was to be spent on Ero Dam, Ureje Dam, N500 million, building of the school of Agriculture, N750 million, Road Construction, N2.6 million, building of Lagos Liaison office, N500 million, building of modern market in Ado Ekiti, N2 billion, building of new government house, N633 million, new governor’s office, N400 million, Ikogosi Warm Spring, N1.5 billion, Civic Centre, N1 billion, totaling N19.3 billion.

The N5billion second tranch of the bond was broken down thus: construction of Ilawe-Igbara Odo-Ibuji road, N894 million, Ikole-Ijesa Isu road, N1.34 billion, Ewu Bridge, N20 million, State Pavilion, N1.553 billion and Ire Resuscitation of Ire Burnt Brick, N966 million, totaling N4.84 billion.

Meanwhile, the former governor and current Minister of Mine and Steel Development did not send any representation to the panel. He had already approached the court to challenge the composition of the probe panel and to seek for its dissolution.

 

 

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