By Ojo Oluwafemi
Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu’s son has threatened the Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi with a court action over allegation that he (Babajide) was paid N430m as consultancy fee for the N4b discovered in Accountant General’s office.
The Governor’s son, Babajide Akeredolu made this known in a statement made available to newsmen in Akure on Tuesday.
Akeredolu’s son said that the allegation, which has been on social media, making the round without a face to it has been refuted by the state government when it first surfaced on Sept. 19.
He noted that the deputy governor would need to prove it with evidence at a court of law how he was paid the lump sum.
He said: “I find it imperative to state unambiguously that I do not hold any political office, it is evil and most wicked to make such allegation that exist mainly in the minds of Hon. Agboola and his ilk against me.
“I have instructed my Lawyers to institute legal action against Hon. Agboola Ajayi to claim full damages for the harm the false and malicious statement he made has done to my reputation.
“He must prove this allegation in the court of law.
“The decision to drag Agboola to court was borne out of the need to clear my name from mud, which the allegation had put in while maintaining innocence in the matter.
“I will like the general public to know the real facts as against the falsehood being peddled.
“I state with emphasis that it is the greatest disrespect and an intentional distortion of facts for the deputy governor to state inter alia that I siphoned N430m of Ondo State’s funds under the disguise of consultancy fees.
“This allegation which I deny can only come from someone so lowly and frivolous and unexpected of anyone who holds the high office of a Deputy.
“This deliberate, malicious and mendacious statement has been making the rounds online and on social media platforms.’’
Babajide said that the unsubstantiated claim and accusation designed to mislead the general public and calculated to malign his person for clear political gain.
He further noted that the statement was calculated to disparage his person and credibility and it has caused severe damage to his reputation and professional.
Mr. Agboola Ajayi is the current deputy governor of Ondo State and defected to Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) to clinch the party ticket for the Oct. 10 governorship election.
