The newly appointed Secretary of Ondo State Oil Producing Area Development Commission,(OSOPADEC), Mrs. Abike Justinah Bayo-Ilawole and the commission’s Director of Administration and Supply, Mr. Akinsola Orisamoluwa, have petitioned and reported to Independent Corrupt Practices & Other Related Offences Commission(ICPC), for alleged certificate forgeries.
The petitioner, a Grade Level 16 officer at the commission, Mr. Semudara Kayode, presented the allegations in his petition, urging the anti-graft agency to investigate the authenticity of the certificates of the senior officials of the commission.
Semudara has, through his attorney, Barr. Femi Emmanuel Emodamori, alleged that Mrs. Justinah Bayo-Ilawole, who Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa appointed recently as the Secretary of OSOPADEC has been allegedly using a fake/forged certificate and making false academic claims to OSOPADEC that she obtained her Master’s in Public Administration (MPA) from the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile Ife in 2001, thereby conferring a corrupt or unfair advantage on herself, whereas she actually obtained the MPA in 2003.”
He also alleged that Mr. Akinsola Orisamoluwa who is the Director of Administration and Supply of the commission is allegedly using a fake/forged certificate and making false academic claims to OSOPADEC that he obtained his MPA from the same OAU in 2000, whereas he actually obtained same in 2002.
Semidara’s attorney states in the petition that: “It is important to state that our client informed us that he has been persecuted, blackmailed and threatened since he chose to reveal this alleged certificate scandal rocking OSOPADEC.
“He personally wrote a petition to Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa since 11th July, 2024 to direct an inquiry into this matter, with some of the above overwhelming documentary evidence. He wrote a reminder to the Governor through our Law Firm on 17th July, 2024.
“His petition to the Governor was necessary because His Excellency
has dissolved the OSOPADEC Board which would have ordinarily assumed the statutory administrative power to investigate such allegations. However, the Governor has failed to take any step in that regard till date.
“Rather, our client began facing greater vindictive actions from the same OSOPADEC officials he alleged of the certificate forgeries, for daring to report them to the Governor. Our client, who has vowed never to be silenced, cowed or compromised on this issue, is now calling on your respected office to urgently investigate the allegations of certificate forgeries and making false certificate claims against Mrs. Abike Justinah Bayo-Ilawole and Mr. Akinsola Orisamoluwa.
“The allegations clearly constitute a serious offence under Section 25 and other sections of the Corrupt Practices and Related Offences Act, and the list of public officials already prosecuted or being prosecuted by your Commission for similar offences is endless.
“Your diligent and uncompromising investigation of this complaint would be appreciated, considering the serious but failed attempts to pressurize, intimidate, blackmail and/or silence our client over the monumental scandals and alleged criminalities.”
But Mrs. Abike Justinah Bayo-Ilawole has dismissed the allegation as spurious and fraudulent, saying he has no issue with her certificate.
Speaking on telephone, she said: “I don’t have issues with my certificate, don’t bother yourself.
“You have a message to deliver? If you have a message to deliver, come and deliver it. If there is something you need, say it. If it’s convenient, I will attend to you. The one you are talking about is fraud (419), it can’t work on me.
“I am not an old person, I am a young person. At my age, if I start schooling, I will complete and I can have all certificates I need in life.
“I have no reason to forge certificate. I have no reason to have certificate scandal. So, don’t bother yourself.”
Although all efforts to reach Mr. Akinsola Orisamoluwa proved abortive, but the Public Relations Officer of OSOPADEC, Mr. Godson Ewata said he was not aware of any allegations against the senior officers of the commission.
