The crisis rocking the Ondo State House of Assembly took a fresh turn on Thursday as the member representing Ilaje Constituency II, Hon. Dr. Olawumi Fayemi-Obayelu, issued a clarification on the allegations she earlier made against the leadership of the House and the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC).
In a new statement, the lawmaker dismissed suggestions that the dispute was connected to an alleged ₦44 million controversy, insisting that the issues she raised were “far beyond” that figure.
According to Fayemi-Obayelu, the matter centres on alleged misappropriation, accountability failures, forgery and abuse of power in relation to OSOPADEC’s finances.
She specifically alleged that the ₦9.2 billion re ordered budget of OSOPADEC was approved without the knowledge of the full membership of the House of Assembly.
The lawmaker further claimed that the Speaker of the House allegedly forged the resolution of the Assembly to facilitate the passage of the re ordered budget, an allegation which, if substantiated, could have significant legal and political implications.
“If I am to talk about money, what is involved is 100 times over ₦44 million,” she stated, arguing that public attention should focus on the larger financial issues she claims are under investigation.
The latest statement follows her earlier allegations in which she claimed to have received threats over an investigation she said linked bribery, forgery and corruption involving the Speaker and OSOPADEC. She had also alleged that she narrowly escaped an attempt on her life and called on the Speaker to resign.
As of the time of filing this report, Speaker Rt. Hon. Olamide Oladiji, the Ondo State House of Assembly, and OSOPADEC had not publicly responded to the latest allegations. The claims made by the lawmaker remain allegations and have not been independently verified.
The unfolding dispute is expected to intensify calls for an independent investigation into the allegations, particularly those relating to the approval process for the alleged ₦9.2 billion re ordered budget, the authenticity of House resolutions, and the management of public funds within OSOPADEC.
