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Osun may drop fraud charge against Akande
THERE seem to be a respite in sight for the embattled former Osun State Governor, Adebisi Akande as the state government may have decided to drop the charges against him over alleged N127million fraud.
The Guardian gathered yesterday that the state government's new posture was as a result of the intervention of President Olusegun Obasanjo and some eminent indigenes of the state.
Besides, it was gathered that security reports gave warning signals that pursuing the case at the state magistrate court may likely lead to violence between the former governors supporters and members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Also, the state government was reported to have restrained itself from further probing into the corruption charges based on what a source called "unnecessary sentiment" and "politics" introduced to the issue by "some misinformed people.
The state governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola had four months ago accused his predecessor of allegedly defrauding the state of about N127 million in the Governor's office project named after the late Chief Bola Ige.
Oyinlola, who vowed to prosecute Akande based on the evidences before him, added that the trial would take place in one of the state magistrate courts.
Two of the former governor's aides, the then commissioner for finance and planning, Chief Lere Adebayo and the secretary to the state government (SSG), Alhaji Sola Akinwumi were accused of masterminding the scam.
Akande, who was declared wanted by the state police command, however, denied the allegation and accused Oyinlola of witch-hunting him on offences he knew nothing about.
He challenged the state government to charge him before the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) and not the state magistrate court if truly something wrong was found against him during his tenure.
But Obasanjo, it was reliably gathered, had a close door meeting with Oyinlola and advised him to be "cautious" in the way he handles the matter "so as not to throw the state in another round of crisis as witnessed between 2000 and 2002".
Several meetings have also been organised for both Oyinlola and Akande by some prominent indigenes of the state to settle the matter amicably.
The former governor's journey abroad for medical check up some weeks ago, it was learnt, stalled the "peace meeting" slated for the state government house in Osogbo.
When The Guardian contacted the Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Kayode Oladeji on the issue, he said "the state government is actually doing something about the issue as it is".
"But you should know that Oyinlola is a man that respects elders. He is looking at all things and possibly come out with the best solution. All I know is that the N127 million is a public fund and the public should wait and see the outcome of the governors new move" he said
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