Police Arraign Embattled Council Chairman Who Accused Gov Abiodun Of Diverting LG Funds

The Ogun State Police Command, on Tuesday, arraigned the ‘impeached’ chairman of Ijebu East Local Government Area, Hon. ‘Wale Adedayo, before a Magistrate Court sitting in Isabo area of Abeokuta metropolis, the state capital.

Adedayo was arraigned before a Magistrate Court II, presided over by Magistrate A.K Araba on a two-count charge bothering on alleged “deliberate circulation of falsehood” and “interference with the exercise of executive function in the state”.

His arraignment was sequel to a petition written and signed 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”.

According to the charge sheet, the former council chairman was said to have “unlawfully publish circular to the public, a letter addressed to the former governor of the state and elder stateman, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, wherein he accused the State governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, of hijacking Local Government funds which himself knew was false allegation and likely to cause fear and alarm to the public or to 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”.

Police Arrest LG Chairman Who Accused Gov Abiodun Of Diverting Funds

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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 Stateman, 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 earlier on September 14, 2023 impeached by Ijebu East Local Counicl, following a petition he authored to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), seeking Abiodun’s probe on the allegations.

He was also arrested by police operatives on Monday at his residence in Ijebu-Ife, headquarters of Ijebu East Local Government Area and was detained at the Police headquarters in Eleweran, Abeokuta till Tuesday morning when he was charged to court.

But, at the court on Tuesday, the Defence Counsel, Barr. Kayode Akinsola, moved an application for the bail of the accused on the ground that the charges upon which he is standing trial are bailable.

In his response to the bail application, the Prosecuting Counsel, Inspector Olaide Rawlings, however, did not object to the bail application.

Delivering his ruling, however, Magistrate Araba admitted Adedayo to bail with the sum of N2million and two “responsible and reliable sureties” in like sum.

The Magistrate further stated that the sureties must be resident within the jurisdiction of the court and must possess landed property with evidence of tax clearance.

While adjourning further trial till October, the Magistrate, however, ordered that Adedayo be remanded at the Ibara Correctional facility in Abeokuta pending when he would perfect his bail conditions.