Daud Olatunji
The Ogun State House of Assembly has summoned the immediate past Chairman of Ewekoro Local Government Area, Mr. Sikiru Adesina, following allegations of illegal sales of government land and properties within the council’s jurisdiction.
This move comes after a petition was submitted by a group known as the ‘Concerned Citizens of Ewekoro Local Government,’ accusing the former chairman of engaging in unlawful land sales, neglecting public interest, and lacking accountability during his tenure.
The petition, addressed to the Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, was signed by the group’s Secretary, Aderibigbe Ajani Kolapo, and Alhaji Kashimu Ashimiu.
It outlined several accusations, alleging that Adesina facilitated the sale of government properties without proper authorization or transparency.
In the petition, the group claimed that “over the past five years, numerous transactions involving the sale of government properties have occurred under the purview of Ewekoro Local Government, without the necessary approvals or public notice.”
They further alleged that these transactions deprived the local community of valuable resources for development and economic opportunities.
The petition highlighted the secrecy surrounding the sales, with little opportunity for community oversight, raising concerns of possible corruption and misappropriation of government resources.
“The unauthorised sales have deprived the citizens of Ewekoro Local Government of potential public amenities, economic opportunities, and environmental benefits,” the petition reads.
Despite repeated requests for transparency, the Chairman’s office allegedly failed to provide satisfactory responses, deepening the public’s distrust in local governance.
During a session held by the Assembly’s Committee on Public Accounts and Anti-Corruption, chaired by Hon. Bello Oluwadamilare, the committee interrogated the Head of Local Government Administration (HOLGA), Mrs. Kemi Ogunyewo, for nearly two hours regarding the petition.
Ogunyewo appeared before the committee alongside four other career officers from the council.
In her defence, Ogunyewo denied any outright sales of government land, clarifying that the properties in question had been leased to private individuals and companies for a period of 99 years.
She explained that each acre of land was leased for N10,000 per annum under the agreement.
According to Ogunyewo, these transactions were conducted legally as long-term leases rather than sales.
However, the committee remained unconvinced by her explanation and requested that Ogunyewo and her team provide further documentation.
They were asked to submit a comprehensive list of all local government-owned lands, indicating which properties had been sold, leased, or were still under council control.
Additionally, the committee demanded a breakdown of the projects executed by the local government between 2021 and 2024, including their costs.
Further scrutiny was placed on the council’s financial management, as the Assembly directed the Council’s Engineer to submit detailed inspection reports on the leased lands.
The Council’s Treasurer was also tasked with providing copies of correspondences with banks regarding inactive bank accounts.
The Committee adjourned the session until next Tuesday, when it expects more comprehensive reports.
It also directed the former Chairman, Mr. Sikiru Adesina, to appear before the committee to respond to the allegations leveled against him and clarify his role in the controversial land transactions.
The ongoing investigation into the alleged illegal sales of government land underscores the Ogun State Assembly’s commitment to ensuring transparency and accountability in local governance.
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