Senator Adelere Oriolowo had refuted accusations that he unlawfully took possession of Osun State Government property.
The senator for Osun West Senatorial District, Oriolowo, called the accusations a flagrant lie and an unambiguous example of careless and unjustified character assassination.
While rejecting the accusations in Iwo on Monday, the Senator also called for a written apology from the State government and a payment of 500,000,000 Naira as restitution for the irreparable harm done to his reputation and integrity.
Remember that the Bashiru Salam-led Asset Review Committee had reported that Senator Oriolowo was in possession of the 130G Motor Grader (005132-A321), D6 Bulldozer (OS130-A32), Electric Transformer Feeder Board Panel, and Soil Compactor Machine in a report? (OS137- A32).
The panel, which was set up by Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, also demanded that the Senator return the said equipment to the State government or face sanctions.
Oriolowo, who maintained the allegation has caused so much damage to his name, reputation and legacy stated that, “since the publication, many well- meaning people within and outside the shores of Nigeria have continuously reached out to me for clarification and solidarity.
“I was taken aback as to why a committee of the State would jettison the principle of fair hearing by inviting me to defend whatever report they must have gotten. I also reliably gathered that this said committee failed to submit their report to their principal before going to the public to malign my name.
“The said equipment which belongs to the then OSSADEP was in existence when I left the agency 15 years ago. To the best of my knowledge, some of them were transferred to the Ministry of Rural Development to assist the government. A simple due diligence or investigation by the committee would have unraveled the salient fact that the equipment is still property of the Osun State Government.”
While confirming that the Osun State Government had received his letter, Senator Oriolowo stated his hope that action would be done to get the publication retracted and that he would receive an apology.
He further threatened that if they didn’t, he would have no choice but to pursue justice through the judicial system.
He believed that Governor Adeleke’s choice to surround himself with sycophants rather than follow the rules and get his administration off the ground may spell the end for it given that he was a former senator.
