ONDO: Akeredolu’s son challenges Ajayi to strip self of immunity over alleged N433m fraud

Threatens to sue deputy governor over claim

GOVERNOR Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State’s son, Babajide, has told the deputy governor, Agboola Ajayi, to stop hiding behind the cloak of immunity to shield himself from prosecution.

Babajide, who threatened to sue the deputy governor, made the statement in connection with the allegation that he siphoned the sum of N433 million from the State’s coffers.

 Describing the allegation by Ajayi as a malicious and deliberate attempt to malign his person, Babajide said taking the bold step  is the only means the deputy governor can prove his allegation in court.

Ajayi had dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC) and earned the governorship ticket of the Zenith Labour Party to contest the October 10 election with Babajide’s father.

Last week Saturday, during his flag-off campaign in Ore, Odigbo council area of the state, Ajayi had alleged that the governor’s son benefitted from the N4.3 billion lodged in a secret account for over 10 years by the past administration.

Ajayi alleged that Babajide was paid N433 million from the money under the pretense of the consultancy fees. While vowing to take the issue up with the deputy governor, Babajide disclosed that the move by Ajayi was made for political gain, which he described as not only wicked but treacherous and false.

Babajide said, “This deliberate, malicious and mendacious statement has been making the rounds online and on social media platforms.”

He continued, “The unsubstantiated claim and accusation, designed to mislead the general public and calculated to malign my person for clear political gain, is not only wicked, treacherous and false but clearly most defamatory.

“The allegation, which has been making the round without a face to it has been refuted by the state government when it first surfaced. While I find it imperative to state unambiguously that I do not hold any political office, it is evil and most wicked to make such an allegation that exists mainly in the minds of Hon. Agboola, the ZLP candidate, and his ilk against me.

“I state with emphasis that it is the greatest disrespect and intentional distortion of facts for the said Gubernatorial candidate of the ZLP to state inter alia that I siphoned Four hundred and thirty-three million naira of Ondo State’s funds under the disguise of consultancy fees.

“This allegation which I deny can only come from someone so lowly and frivolous and unexpected of anyone who holds the high office of a Deputy Governor.

“The statement by Hon. Agboola Ajayi was calculated to disparage my person and credibility and it has caused severe damage to my reputation and professional interests.”

Babajide added: “ln light of the above, I have instructed my lawyers to institute legal action against Hon. Agboola Ajayi to claim full damages for the harm the false and malicious statement he made has done to my reputation. He must prove this allegation in the court of law.”

The governors’ son said, ”lf there is any modicum of honesty in the ZLP candidate, I expect that he shows clear willingness to do the honourable thing by stripping himself of his immunity and accept the court process and prove his claims in the court of Law.