Impeached Ogun Council Boss Arraign For Alleging Governor Abiodun Diverted LG Funds

By Babatunde Solanke

The embattled impeached Chairman of Ijebu-East Local Government in Ogun State, Wale Adedayo, has been arraigned by State Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alamutu,  over a letter he wrote to Aremo Olusegun Osoba against Governor Dapo Abiodun.

Adedayo had in a letter to former Governor Osoba accused Abiodun of diverting funds meant for local governments in the state.

Although Governor Abiodun denied the allegations and got apologies from other council chairmen, Adedayo was later impeached by the councillors in Ijebu-East over the development

On Monday, Adedayo was picked up by the police and kept in custody till Tuesday morning when he was taken before an Ogun State Magistrate’s Court presided over by Magistrate A.K Araba sitting in Abeokuta.

Adedayo arrest, it was gathered, was based on a petition submitted to the Ogun State police command by the Ogun State Government, stating that Adedayo, in his letter, deliberately circulated falsehood against Gov Abiodun.

At the court on Tuesday, the prosecutor, Inspector Olaide Rawlings, told the Magistrate that Adedayo defamed Abiodun with his letter to Osoba.

In the two-count charge, it was said, “That you Hon. Wale Adedayo ‘m’ on the 27th August 2023 at Abeokuta in the Abeokuta Magisterial District did unlawfully publish a 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 which you 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.”

Adedayo was also said to have unlawfully published the letter accusing Abiodun of hijacking Local Government funds, being 10 per cent of the State’s Internally Generated Revenue, which the Constitution stipulates should go to the Local Government(s) from May 2019.

The letter was said to be 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 the discharge of his office.

The offence, according to the prosecutor, was contrary to and punishable under Section 375 of the Criminal Code laws of Ogun State, 2006.

Adedayo had pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against him.

The Defendant’s Counsel, Kayode Akinsola, applied for bail, saying the charges against him were bailable.

The Prosecutor did not object to the bail application.

In his ruling, Araba granted Adedayo bail in the sum of N2 million and two “responsible and reliable sureties” in like sum.