EFCC Arrests OSOPADEC Officials

James Sowole in Akure
Officials of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) yesterday stormed the office of the Ondo State Oil Producing Area and Development Commission (OSOPADEC) in Akure, the Ondo State capital, and took away four principal officers of the commission.

One of the arrested officials was the Chairman of the commission, Mr. Johnson Ogunyemi.
Other officials of the commission that were arrested are the Secretary. Dr. Dele Durojaye, the Director of Finance, Sola Orisamoluwa and the Director of Finance, Vincent Ikuomola.
It was gathered that the officials of the anti- graft commission who stormed the headquarters of the OSOPADEC around 12p.m. locked the main gate leading into commission before heading to the office of the chairman

The entrance gate leading to the commission was locked to prevent movement of people into the compound of the commission while some police officers were stationed at the gate.
After about three hours at the commission looking into files, the EFCC left in a coaster bus and two Hilux vans

The official of the EFCC also left with some files and documents.
When THISDAY got to the premises of the commission, they were seen gathering in groups discussing the arrest of the principal officers in hush tones.

One of the workers who spoke on condition of anonymity said that the arrest of the OSOPADEC officials might not be unconnected with the failure of the commission to pay students bursary in the last two or three years.

He also said the arrest might be traced to the financial mismanagement of the officials of the commission.

However, another staff of the commission linked the arrest of the OSOPADEC officials to a petition by interested stakeholders seeking for explanation on the spending of the commission in the last eight years.

He said: “The commission had failed to render its financial activities to the public in the last eight years and this might be one of the petition against the commission before EFCC.”