As Akeredolu Proceeds on Another Medical Leave in Ondo…

Fidelis David writes that the political tension in Ondo state occasioned by the face-off between Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu and the deputy governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, may have come to an end with the former, for the second time in less than a year, transferring executive powers in acting capacity to the latter.

Eight whole months could really be a long horrendous, awful period of hopelessness and wretchedness if the journey of life was rough and tough. A period which could span like a century if misfortune snagged around one’s neck making life meaningless in all its entirety.

Yet, it could be like a twinkle of an eye when bliss and felicity held sway, eliminating every sorrow and its delirious impact; a period of ecstasy with pleasurable fantasies. Figuratively, that is the situation in the sunshine state of Ondo.

The South-West state has been battling a political crisis for months after Governor Rotimi Akeredolu returned from his three-months medical trip in Germany last September.

Some believe that the progress of the state was deliberately put on hold while others were of the opinion that the crisis had no negative effect on the state.

No doubt, each day came with its drama and each month started with a new approach and rapidity, the hope of peace, truce and total recovery rose and advance every passing day.

Akeredolu’s absence threw the state into a political quagmire as many question his state of health. Also, there were several calls on the governor to transfer executive powers to his deputy, citing concerns over the economic standstill caused by the governor’s prolonged absence due to ill health but it yielded no positive result.

Even, the earlier meeting and deliberations between President Bola Tinubu, Ondo state officials, the All Progressives Congress, members and other stakeholders over the political logjam on November 28, 2023 had no positive effect on the crisis.

But in the latest move to resolve the impasse, it was gathered that President Tinubu ordered the Ondo State House of Assembly, to transfer power to deputy governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa. It was also learnt that Tinubu made the decision at a meeting he summoned to resolve the leadership crisis in the state on Monday, emphasizing that the transfer should be conducted without any conditions, as it aligns with the “doctrine of necessity.”

Besides, it was learnt the transfer of power was going to be done by electronic signature (e-signature) as the ailing governor was said to be too weak to sign any document and the decision allows Governor Akeredolu to take a medical leave to ensure his well-being.

Aiyedatiwa Takes Over As Captain

The President’s meeting and decision with the leadership of Ondo Assembly was further cemented when Governor Akeredolu, revealed that he will today (Wednesday) commence another round of medical leave as a follow-up to his medical treatment.

Recall that Akeredolu returned from Germany on September 7 2023, after a three-month medical leave and has since remained in his private residence in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital where he has been performing his official duties, a move which has generated lots of criticism and uproar.

However, a statement by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Richard Olatunde, yesterday revealed that a formal letter regarding the medical leave and a notice formally transferring power in line with the Nigerian Constitution will be transmitted to the House of Assembly.

It emphasised that in the absence of Akeredolu, the Deputy Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, will assume the responsibilities of the Governor in acting capacity.

“During his medical leave, Governor Akeredolu will prioritise his health and ensure a full recovery before resuming his official duties. Governor Akeredolu expresses his gratitude for the unwavering support and affection of the people of Ondo State. He assures them that his administration remains committed to the path of progress and prosperity for the people”.

Tinubu’s intervention provides constitutional solution

Speaking on the development, constitutional lawyer and human rights activist, Dr Tunji Abayomi said the intervention of President Tinubu has provided the most appropriate constitutional solution to it.

The lawyer said the intervention of President Tinubu was timely, adding that the intervention saved the state from political crisis and constitutional logjam.

Ajulo’s Revelation of Forgery on Akeredolu’s Signature

Besides, barely two weeks ago, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Kayode Ajulo, alleged that some government officials in the state are forging the signature of Governor Akeredolu on documents.

Speaking in an interview on Arise TV,  Ajulo alleged that the absence of Akeredolu since June 2023 created a huge vacuum in the state.

The lawyer who is an indigene of the state also alleged that some cabals hijacked the governance of the sunshine state since Akeredolu did not properly hand over to Lucky Aiyedatiwa, his deputy, positing that the deputy governor should be the acting governor in the absence of the governor, stressing that any other arrangement is illegal.

His words: “Recently, there were some memos which were purportedly approved by the governor (Akeredolu). The same governor we are looking for. By the time one of them was sent to my office, we ran a check on those signatures. As a private investigator, I checked all the documents and found that everything is forged. And the accusing finger is pointed at one or two people.

“I have it on good authority as a lawyer. Some of the commissioners, about five of them, sent memos to the governor, and the memos came back with purported approval of the governor. Going through the approval particularly the signature, checking it with all other approvals done when the governor was well, there were disparities.

“The Police Act and Administration of Criminal Justice Act have made it clear that there can be private investigators. Private investigators have been contacted. Their report is very damning. The purported signature is not from the governor. It is so obvious.”

Only Governor Akeredolu Can Claim That His Signature Has Been Forged.

To Akeredolu, the embarrassment was too contemptuous to endure and to douse tension and put the record straight, he swiftly faulted Ajulo’s claim describing it as “utterly preposterous and ludicrous, stemming solely from the figment of an imagination.”

The governor in a release by his chief press secretary, Richard Olatunde, said, “This accusation of forging Mr. Governor’s signature is utterly preposterous and ludicrous, stemming solely from the figment of their imagination. I want to assure you that no one is forging Mr. Governor’s signature. The circulated content on social media, which some people are relying on as evidence, is laughable.

“If they genuinely believe there is a disparity, they should present a legitimate document to support their claims. We are more than willing to thoroughly investigate the matter and prosecute anyone found culpable.

“The main issue here is that we cannot entertain baseless speculations and unfounded claims. A group of individuals somewhere has assembled two signatures, yet they cannot even determine which one belongs to the governor. They refuse to disclose the documents that were allegedly signed or provide any information regarding the dates. The individuals behind these fabricated signatures are the real culprits engaging in criminal activities.”

He noted that it was disheartening to see a legal practitioner making such statements on national television, saying only Governor Akeredolu can claim that his signature has been forged.

“It is disheartening to see a supposed legal practitioner making such statements on national television. How did they arrive at the forgery? Where is the document that supposedly contained the forged signature? Why are they not revealing the beneficiary of this document? By concealing such a document and engaging in unnecessary media theatrics, they are doing a great disservice to the state and the people.

“The truth of the matter is that only Governor Akeredolu can claim that his signature has been forged. I have personally spoken to the Governor, and he has asked me to emphatically refute this claim. The signature of Mr. Governor is not forged. Please disregard these crisis entrepreneurs. Their real gains are in crisis, not peace.”

Razaq Obe’s Claim

Also, last Thursday, the State Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Mr. Razaq Obe, wrote the Deputy Governor, Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, alleging forgery of Akeredolu’s signature on official documents.

Obe, in a letter dated December 7, 2023 confirmed the irregularities in the signature of his principal who has been performing his official duties from Ibadan, Oyo State capital since his arrival from a three-month medical leave in Germany on September 7.

“I write to bring to your attention a critical matter that requires immediate action. It has been confirmed that the signature of Mr. Governor on a certain document has been forged.The irregularities in the signature were first observed when a file from my ministry was returned through the office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG). This is the only file that has been returned so far out of the five files that were sent for Mr. Governor’s approval about two months ago.

“Upon closer inspection, I noticed significant differences between the suspicious signature and handwriting and Mr. Governor’s known signatures and handwriting in the file. Concerned about the gravity of the situation, I decided to seek a forensic review before disclosing my discovery. I sent the suspicious signature, handwriting samples, and copies of the old regular signatures to forensic experts, who have now confirmed that the suspicious signature and handwriting were indeed forged”.

According to the Commissioner: “Despite the inherent risks involved, I have chosen to fulfill the obligations of my office by reporting this alarming development to you as the highest-ranking member of the State Executive Council after Mr. Governor. I firmly believe that this is the course of action our esteemed leader, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, would take in such a situation.

“Considering the possibility that such forgery may be widespread, this heads-up is of utmost importance to the government and people of Ondo State. I have attached a copy of the forensic report and relevant pages from the file for your reference”.

“I urge you to treat this matter with the urgency it deserves and take appropriate actions to address the situation. It is crucial that we restore the integrity of our processes and ensure that such a disturbing development is swiftly punctuated.”

Need For Thorough Investigation By Security Agencies

An Akure-based Lawyer, Femi Emmanuel Emodamori however said the claims of the Commissioner ought to be taken with a pinch of salt, unless and until same is properly investigated by the appropriate law enforcement agencies.

“As a Legal Practitioner trained to have a very inquisitive mind, I have some fundamental observations touching on the authenticity or credibility of the letter and purported forensic report in the first place.

“Firstly, contrary to the Commissioner’s claim, the purported forensic report names the client who requested the examination as “Act for Positive Transformation Initiative”, and not Engr. Rasaq Obe or the Ondo State Commissioner for Energy. This means that either the Hon. Commissioner or the purported forensic report is lying about who hired the services of the alleged forensic expert who supposedly produced it. I addressed the above observation first, because the source of any documents which a forensic expert claims to have examined is very crucial in determining the issue of forgery.

“The source and/or channel of transmission of the subject document to the ‘forensic examiner’ would equally reveal whether there are possibilities of mischief or deliberate alterations along the line. In this regard, we must admit that Ondo State is under a tense political atmosphere where mischief and foul practices could be easily deployed for political reasons.”

He said, his “second observation or finding is that a quick online search at the Corporate Affairs Commission (C.A.C) shows that the “Act of Positive Transformation Initiative” on behalf of which the purported forensic expert claimed to have carried out the forensic examination, is not registered and therefore not a juristic entity in law. It does not exist. In other words, the purported forensic examination was carried out on behalf of a non-existent person or ‘client’.

“This renders the purported forensic report itself a suspected fraudulent document or false certificate within the context of Section 105 of the Criminal Law of Ondo State, a serious criminal act regarded as a felony. It is akin to a medical doctor issuing a medical report in the name of a fictitious or non-existent patient. If the forensic report is built on such fraudulent foundation, every other claim therein becomes seriously tainted with fraud.

“The third and very fundamental observation I have to make is that there is even no single line in the purported five-page forensic report stating the real identity of the documents allegedly examined by the purported forensic expert. The ‘forensic report’ gave the documents supposedly examined coded descriptions like “K”, K1, “K2”, “K3” “K4” and “Q-Q2”. In law, this proves nothing. We do not know the purported documents so coded. We are left to mere speculation on the real identities of the documents which the forensic expert claimed to have examined. It is however trite that a Court does not act on speculations or sentiments, but on proven facts. The Supreme Court restated this sacrosanct position of the law in AGBI V. OGBEH (2006) 11 NWLR (PT 990) 65 AT 135 PARAGRAPH E and OKPE V. FAN MILK PLC (2017) 2 NWLR (PT 1549) 282 AT 310 PARAS B-C.”

The lawyer further asked: “When did he receive the document containing the alleged forged signature and handwriting of the Governor? When did he send the document to the purported forensic expert for examination?

“Fortunately, the introductory part of the ‘forensic report’ makes some representations that are useful in answering these vital questions. It states the date of the request for the forensic examination as “4th December, 2023”, In his letter, the Commissioner claimed that he sent five files to the Governor, out of which only one was returned to him with the suspected irregular signature and handwriting of the Governor. By contradiction however, the forensic report refers to “Questioned signatures/ handwriting on a questioned document dated 18th October, 2023 and 1st November, 2023, Marked Q and Q1 respectively,” thereby implying that there are two signatures of the Governor on a single document with two separate dates that are almost two weeks apart! Every rational thinker would certainly be curious to dig more into this prima facie contradictions.

“Something is seriously fishy here.My seventh observation is about the political leaning of Engr. Rasaq Obi himself. Whoever claims there are no political divisions between the loyalists of the Ondo State Governor and his Deputy would be grossly insincere. It is therefore wise to pause a minute and determine which of the political divides Engr. Rasaq Obe belongs, in other to ascertain whether there are prima facie grounds to ascribe any tendentious political motives to his action or claims.

He added that Engr. Rasaq Obe actually belongs to the Lucky Ayedatiwa faction, hence the need for the letter.

“The fact that the allegation of forgery of the Governor’s signature was already being spearheaded and/or actively promoted by people known to be undisguised supporters of the Deputy-Governor, including one of the lawyers representing him in a number of court cases, Mr. Allen Sowore (my own beloved friend), would lend some credence to the hypothesis that Engr. Obe might simply be playing out the political schemes or skirmishes of the Ayedatiwa group.

“In conclusion, one would ask whether the above fundamental observations are enough to completely render the claims of Engr. Rasaq Obe incredulous. I would not say so.These crucial observations however symbolize red flags why the claims of the Commissioner ought to be taken with a pinch of salt, unless and until same is properly investigated by the appropriate law enforcement agencies, in this case the Police or State Security Services.

“And to call a spade a spade, Engr. Rasaq Obe himself would be the number one suspect in the course of such investigation, while the purported forensic expert would also be very useful to the security agencies. The investigation should then be conducted on the owner of the alleged forged signature(s), who is the Governor, as he alone could confirm whether his signature was forged on the subject documents or not.

He stressed that the confirmation or denial of Akeredolu would be the surest guide to further investigation into the matter.

 “It would enable us determine whether we are simply dealing with public officers raising very serious and most embarrassing allegations supported with fraudulent documents to achieve a political objective, or heroes and watchdogs to whom we should be collectively grateful for their vigilance and courage.”