The Magistrate’s Court sitting in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital has remanded the impeached chairman of Ijebu-East local government area, Wale Adedayo, in a correctional centre.
The state police command had arraigned Adedayo before Magistrate Court II, presided over by Magistrate A.K Araba on a two-count charge bothering on “deliberate circulation of falsehood” and interference with the exercise of executive function in the state.
His arraignment was sequel to a petition written by the secretary to the state government (SSG), Mr. Tokunbo Talabi, titled: “Petition against Wale Adedayo’s deliberate circulation of falsehood, false report to government, threat to life and interference with the exercise of executive function”.
In the charge sheet, the prosecuting counsel, Inspector Olaide Rawlings, the former council chairman “unlawfully publish circular to the public”, a letter addressed to the former governor of the state and elder statesman, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, wherein he accused Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun of hijacking local government funds.
The impeached local government area boss he alleged, “Himself knew was false allegation and likely to cause fear and alarm to the public or disturb the public peace, knowing or having reason to believe that such statement is a rumour and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 59(1) of Criminal Code laws of Ogun State, 2006”.
The second charge reads: “That you Hon. Wale Adedayo ‘m’ on the same date and place in the aforesaid Magisterial District did unlawfully publish circular to the public, a letter addressed to the former Governor of Ogun State and Elder Statesman, Aremo Olusegun Osoba ‘m’ in which you accused the present Governor of Ogun State; Prince Dapo Abiodun ‘m’ of hijacking Local Government funds (ten percent (10%) of the state Internally Generated Revenue which the Constitution stipulate should go to the local government(s) since May, 2019 which you knew was a false allegation and likely to injure the reputation of the Governor by exposing him to hatred, contempt or ridicule or to damage him in discharge of his office and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 375 of Criminal Code laws of Ogun State, 2006.”
Adedayo was impeached on September 14, 2023, following a petition he authored to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) seeking Abiodun’s probe on the allegations.
