The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has called for an investigation into Mr. Kazeem Akinleye, Chief of Staff to Governor Ademola Adeleke, following allegations of contract fraud.
In a statement released on Sunday, APC spokesperson Mr. Kola Olabisi urged Governor Adeleke to refer Akinleye to the Code of Conduct Bureau. The allegations suggest that Akinleye used his position to secure a ₦297 million Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) contract, intended for the University of Osun, for his company, Akinsas Interbiz Limited.
Olabisi described the accusations as grave and criticized the governor’s response as insufficient. “The governor’s defense that Akinleye is not implicated because he is neither a member of the UNIOSUN Governing Council nor the TETFUND board is weak and unconvincing,” Olabisi stated.
He further questioned the governor’s stance, arguing, “Does this mean the governor could use his office to favor his company in state-owned institutions as long as he resigned from a directorship? The law was not intended to allow public officials to resign from directorships only to secure lucrative contracts for their companies through political influence.”
Olabisi continued, “While Akinsas Interbiz Limited can compete for contracts nationwide, it is inappropriate for it to pursue contracts in Osun’s state-owned institutions where Mr. Kazeem Akinleye holds significant influence.”
In response, Olawale Rasheed, spokesperson for Governor Adeleke, defended Akinleye, asserting that he had resigned from the company before his appointment as Chief of Staff. Rasheed emphasized that Akinleye had no involvement in the company’s operations or in any meetings concerning the contract in question.
Rasheed dismissed the APC’s claims as a diversion, asserting that they would not affect the ongoing prosecution of former officials from ex-Governor Gboyega Oyetola’s administration over contract issues. He commented, “The APC is evidently concerned about the findings of the forensic investigation by the state contract review committee and the white paper implementation committee, which has implicated several former top officials.”
Rasheed added that the APC’s attempts to discredit Akinleye and other officials are part of a failed strategy. “The APC is aware of the details of various contract frauds and the implicated companies, which are now moving towards prosecution,” he concluded.