Some Oyomesi aka Kingmakers have been quizzed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC over the ongoing contest for the Alaafin of Oyo stool.
The former Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi died over a year ago and serious contestation among qualified princes in the ancient town who are angling to succeed him has followed his demise.
The governor of the state, Seyi Makinde has been criticized for slowing down the process of installing a new Alaafin, an allegation the state government denied.
Sources to Agodi Government House had informed the magazine that the governor refused to install a particular candidate favoured by the kingmakers after he got wind that they have been bribed by him.
Governor Makinde promised to punish those involved in the bribery allegation.
On Wednesday, the anti-graft agency invited some of the kingmakers alleged to have taken bribes for questioning.
According to Punch newspaper, those invited by EFCC include Basorun of Oyo town, High Chief Yusuf Ayoola; Agbaakin of Oyo town, High Chief Asimiyu Atanda; Samu of Oyo town, High Chief Lamidi Oyewale; Lagunna of Oyo town, High Wakilu Oyedepo; and Akinniku of Oyo town.
It was gathered that the petitioner alleged that the kingmakers collected bribes running into millions of naira to favour a particular candidate, hence the decision of EFCC to summon the kingmakers for questioning.
Investigations further revealed, however, that only Oloye Agbaakin and Oloye Samu honoured the EFCC invitation while Basorun, Lagunna and Akinniku were said to be absent.
Those present were said to be accompanied by their lawyers and were asked to write a statement in defence of the allegation as stated in the petition before they were released.
As of press time, details of their defence were not known.
One of the kingmakers, High Chief Oyewale confirmed the invitation by the EFCC
“Yes, we were invited. We have gone and come back,” he said.
