Daud Olatunji
The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA) has reportedly petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, over allegations of fraudulent misrepresentation involving a private rice farm in the state.
The anti-corruption and human rights group accused the governor of falsely parading a privately owned rice farm as a World Bank-assisted Ogun State Government project.
PLATFORM TIMES reports that the petition, signed by HEDA’s Chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, was prompted by a report from Peoples Gazette on September 12, 2024, which detailed the governor’s alleged claims over a rice farm belonging to Bello Zabarmawa, the Special Adviser to the Kebbi State Governor.
The farm, located in Ogun State, was reportedly leased by Zabarmawa under the company “Young Service Grow” and using “Alubarika Farms.”
It was gathered that he invested N6 million to lease 220 hectares of land and provided interest-free loans to 200 farmers to boost rice cultivation.
Zabarmawa claimed that the Ogun State Government supported the project by covering half of the land clearing costs and contributing to fertilizer expenses.
However, accoridng to the petition, when the rice was ready for harvest, Governor Abiodun allegedly visited the farm and publicly misrepresented it as a state government initiative, allegedly funded by the World Bank.
This, according to HEDA, raises concerns about potential misappropriation of public funds meant for agricultural development in the state.
HEDA expressed alarm at the governor’s actions, which they say reflect a troubling pattern of political leaders exploiting public resources for personal benefit.
In their petition, the organisation called on the EFCC to investigate the alleged misrepresentation and determine whether any funds allocated for public agricultural projects were diverted.
Suraju emphasised that this case represents yet another example of the deep-rooted corruption that continues to plague Nigeria’s governance.
“Nigeria has endured too many years of poor governance and corruption at the hands of leaders who prioritise personal enrichment over the welfare of citizens,” he said.
HEDA, he added, is committed to promoting transparency and accountability across all levels of government.
The anti-corruption group urged the EFCC to act swiftly in uncovering the truth and ensuring that all parties involved, including Governor Abiodun, are held accountable if found culpable.
HEDA also commended the EFCC for its efforts in tackling corruption in Nigeria and expressed optimism about the outcome of the investigation.
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