The Ondo State governor, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, on Tuesday, petitioned the state Commissioner of Police, Salami Bolaji, over the refusal of the former deputy governor, Hon Agboola Ajayi, to return all the government vehicles in his possession.
Akeredolu in a letter written to the state Police Command and signed on his behalf by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Special Duties & Strategy, Dr Doyin Odebowale, asked the Police to prevail on the former deputy governor to return all the four vehicles in his possession.
According to the letter made available to Tribune Online, it was alleged that the former deputy governor, Ajayi, was still holding to the government vehicles despite haven left the office for almost two months.
Odebowale in the letter said, despite that all entreaties to the former deputy governor to return the vehicles were rebuffed by Ajayi, depriving the incumbent deputy governor of using the vehicles.
The letter reads: “Our Office has the firm directive of the Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi O. Akeredolu, to recover all government properties still in the possession of former political office holders in the state, especially those who served in the immediate past administration.
“Our record confirms that Mr Agboola Ajayi, the immediate past Deputy Governor of Ondo State, is still holding on to four vehicles owned by the government.
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“All entreaties to him to return these vehicles, for the use of the incumbent occupier of the office, have been rebuffed.
“Please, Sir, find attached copies of the letters dated 16th February 2021 and 1st March 2021 respectively.
“We lodge this complaint believing that you will use your good offices to look into this brazen act of conversion, and this is being charitable.
“Any person who keeps/detains the property of another with the intent to deprive the owner, permanently, of the usufruct right conferred therefrom, has committed an offence known in law as stealing.
“The vehicles in Mr Ajayi’s possession, unlawfully, are; Land Cruiser SUV, New Toyota Hilux, New Toyota Hilux and Toyota Hilux.”
It will be recalled that the tenure of Ajayi who served as the deputy governor to Akeredolu expired on February 23, 2021.
Akeredolu picked Lucky Ayedatiwa as his new deputy, dumped Ajayi who also contested the seat with him during the October 2020 governorship election after an irreconcilable crisis between the two leaders.
However, while reacting to the development, the former deputy governor in the state, Ajayi, said he would react at the appropriate time.
Ajayi while speaking through his media assistant, Allen Sowore, said he would only react after the state police command communicates with him officially on the matter.
He said, “I will be waiting for the official communication from the police.”
Akeredolu petitions police commissioner over former deputy’s refusal to return govt vehicles
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