Some members of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) have dragged the factional national coordinator of the organisation, Otunba Gani Adams, to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly diverting $22m.
The aggrieved members made these claims of financial fraud in a three-page petition, dated March 4 and signed by 26 members of the National Coordinating Council of the group.
The petition was reportedly received at the Lagos office of the anti-graft agency on March 11.
They alleged that one of the purported offences of Adams was diversion of $22 million, which he allegedly received on behalf of the group from the late Libyan leader, Muamar Ghadaffi.
The aggrieved OPC members, who signed the petition were Messrs Rasak Arogundade, Monsuru Akande, Adesina Akinpelu, Kehinde Ogunyale, Adeola Adeagbo, Ranti Akande, Gbenga Egunlusi, Lateef Oshodi, ‘Layiwola Ogunsolu, Olusoji Folorunso, Sunday Bankole, ‘Segun Olusanya and Sunday Adebayo and Idowu Akintunde.
The list also comprised Oyename Adebayo, Lateef Kaka, Oladipupu Musa, Musiliu Amusa, Lateef Ogungbayi, Morufu Salami, Rotimi Akinsowon, Taofik Hameed, Dauda Oyelowo, Yinka Olowoporoku, Adio Odewole and Alexander Adesina.
The petition reads in part: “Besides funds stolen or misappropriated by Adams, there is also the case of about six million members (using Adams estimate of OPC membership strength during his pro-Jonathan campaigns) who are obligated to obtain the group’s identification cards at N2,500 each.
“From identity cards alone, Gani Adams pockets about N15 billion every year.
“Adams equally diverted N150 million specially set aside by the NCC and meant for building a hotel for the OPC in each South- West state capital. This is besides the N100 million or more, also made by encouraging unwary members to buy shares in the hotel project. The hotel scheme was conceived in 2007 but has failed to see the light of the day.
“This situation is no longer acceptable to us and the generality of the OPC cadre who have been at the receiving end of Adams misdemeanour. Ours has been for too long, like the proverbial masquerade that farted, it can only bear the nauseating stink until it is dissipated with time.”
Reacting through his Personal Assistant, Prince Olalekan Segun Akanni, the OPC boss stated that if the petitioners had their facts, they would meet at the EFCC.
“Those behind the petition are expelled members of the group who are seeking relevance by saying the same things for a long time without anything to show for it.
“One of the vocals among them has been trying to get the attention of the leader and has even demanded a certain amount of money for him to ditch his co-rebels,” he said.
-punchng