Ogun APC in alleged financial scandal, party tackles Amosun group

Published 

on September 10, 2022

Two members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State have petitioned the National Chairman of the party, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, accusing the Yemi Sanusi-led executive of financial impropriety.

But, the Ogun APC, in a veiled reference, said the group loyal to former Governor Ibikunle Amosun, was behind the petition, dated September 7, 2022 and copied to Governor Dapo Abiodun, Chief Segun Osoba as well as other leaders of the party in the Gateway State.

The APC members, Idowu Olaonipekun Quadri from Owode Ward 1, Yewa South Local Government and Ayinde Suuru Bababunmi from Ifohintedo Ward in Ipokia Local Government, told Adamu that Sanusi, who is the Chairman of the APC in Ogun, and the Secretary, Aderibigbe Tella, had been diverting money from the APC bank account for no known reasons.

While saying they wrote to inform Adamu of the unpleasant development bothering on financial improprieties by the State Chairman, Sanusi and State executive members of the APC, they explained that they came across an embarrassing report on August 13, highlighting suspicious financial dealings by the party leadership in the State.

According to them, the report “contains direct withdrawal by the state secretary, direct credit transfer to the state chairman and organizing secretary personal account from the party’s account numbers 0122892910 and 0123390468 with Wema bank in Abeokuta.”

They alleged that no fewer than N74million was withdrawn from the two Wema bank accounts of the party between April and August, 2021 by Sanusi and Tella.

They wondered why the party leadership would withdraw such amount of money when Governor Dapo Abiodun has continued to fund the party with N7million as monthly emoluments.

It was stated that the state executive had never released a dime for any local government or wards for any activity.

“We also wish to inform you that having seen the news on social media, the chairman and his cabal are currently planning a proposed renovation of the party secretariat as a cover up for their fraudulent act. This will further compound the issues and a clear act of being clever by half as logical and objective questions would be raised.

“Sir, in the light of above, it is of utmost necessity for your office to beam a searchlight on this ugly development,” it was said.

In their prayers, the petitioners demanded the: “Immediate suspension of the Chairman and all members of Ogun state executives; Conduct of a detailed investigation with a view to establishing the genuineness or otherwise of the allegations; Determination of the appropriateness of the beneficiaries of the withdrawals and transfers; Determining whether the treasurer and the financial secretary were allowed to discharge the functions of their offices as provided in the party’s constitution; Establishment of the purpose for which the withdrawals were made; Application of appropriate and commensurate sanctions to any of the officer found wanting.”

Reacting, the Publicity Secretary of the APC in Ogun, Hon. Tunde Oladunjoye, said he was aware of the petition.

Oladunjoye told DRILOGIST that the petition was written those he described as sore losers, cryptically referring to the Amosun faction of the Ogun APC.

“It’s not our practice to react in the media to matters already seized by the National Body and for which the decision of the HQ has not been made known to us or the public.

“However I can tell you that the missive of mischief was apparently from the same quarters of sore losers that the current National Chairman had described as “petitioners” when he last visited Ogun State as the then Chairman of the APC Reconciliation Committee.

“It’s a stale hallucination they have been circulating on the social media as far back as four months ago!” Oladunjoye said in a message.

DAILY POST reports that the APC in Ogun has been polarised between the Abiodun and Amosun factions.

The two factions, in 2021, held parallel congresses to elect state, local government and ward executive officers.

But, the leadership of the party pitched tents with the Dapo Abiodun group, leaving the Amosun camp in the cold.

It would be recalled that loyalists of the immediate past governor filed various petitions against their rival group, but all to no avail.

Meanwhile, Oladunjoye has repeatedly addressed Amosun and his followers as “sore losers”.