Allegation Of Certificate Forgery Rocks Ondo Intervention Agency, Petitioner Invites ICPC

By Ayodele Oni

The power tussle among Senior Staff of Ondo State Government Intervention Agency, Oil Producing Area Development Commission, (OSOPADEC), is taking a new dimension as one of the Staff accused two newly appointed Management Staff of certificate forgery.

Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa recently appointed Mrs Abike Justinah Bayoilawole as Secretary of the Commission and Akinola Orisamoluwa as Director of Administration.

The  duo have been dragged before the Independent Corrupt Practices & Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), for alleged certificate forgeries.

A staff of the Commission, Semidara Kayode, a level 16 officer at the Commission, apparently feeling sidelined with the appointments,  is praying ICPC to investigate the allegations against the two top officers in a petition.

The petition signed on behalf of Semudara by his lawyer, Femi Emmanuel Emodamori, alleged that Justinah Bayo-Ilawole, who was recently appointed as OSOPADEC Secretary by the State Governor Lucky

Aiyedatiwa, has been, allegedly, using a fake/forged certificate and allegedly making false academic claims to OSOPADEC that she obtained her Master 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.

Ilawole while reacting to the allegation stated that, “I don’t have issues with my Certificate. 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.”

The petitioner said in the same vein, Mr. Akinsola Orisamoluwa has been allegedly using a fake/forged certificate and allegedly making false academic claims to OSOPADEC that he obtained his MPA from the same OAU in 2000, whereas he actually obtained same in 2002.

The lawyer in the petition said, “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 BayoIlawole 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. Please accept our highest regard.