The police in Ogun State have arraigned the impeached chairman of Ijebu East Local Government Area, Wale Adedayo, before a magistrate court sitting in the Isabo area of Abeokuta on Tuesday.
Adedayo was arraigned before Justice A.K. Araba on two counts bordering on publication of unlawful publication and false allegation of fund diversion by Governor Dapo Abiodun.
The prosecutor, Adeyemi Olukoya, told the court that Adedayo committed offences which are contrary to and punishable under sections 59(1) and 375 of the criminal code laws of Ogun State, 2006.
The charge read, “That you Hon. Wale Adedayo m’ on the 27h 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 false and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 59(1) of Criminal Code laws of Ogun State, 2006.
“That you Hon. Wale Adedayo ‘m’ on the same date and place in the aforesaid 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’ hijacking Local Government fund (ten per cent (10%) of Internally Generated Revenue which the Constitution stipulate should go to the Local Governments) 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 the discharge of his office and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 375 of Criminal Code laws of Ogun State, 2006.”
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the counts.
In her ruling, Araba granted the defendant bail to the tune of N2m and required two “responsible and reliable sureties” residing within the court’s jurisdiction, possessing landed property with tax clearance.
The case was adjourned till October 20, 2023, for further hearing.
Adedayo had on Monday announced on his Facebook page that he had been arrested by men of the Ogun State police force
The post read, “Son of man is being taken to Ogun State Police CID at Eleweran, Abeokuta. They claim the State Government wrote a petition against me. If it is death, I follow the path of the Patriarchs. Ase di owo Olodumare!”
Adedayo had accused Governor Abiodun of diverting the statutory Federal Allocation due to the state’s Local Governments in the last two years.
Adedayo, in a letter written to former Governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba, on August 29, 2023 alleged that over N10.8bn fund of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme was also diverted by the governor.
The LG boss claimed that the 10 percent of the state’s Internally Generated Revenue, which the constitution also stipulated should go to the local government, has not been given since Abiodun reportedly got into office.
In a counter-reaction, Governor Abiodun, on August 30, 2023, denied the allegation that he was diverting the statutory Federal Allocation due to the state’s Local Governments in the last two years.
The governor said his administration had to augment the funds allocated to local governments in the state to enable the council chairmen to meet their obligations.