Akintunde Olunloyo arraigned for N40m fraud not my son ―Ex-gov Olunloyo

A former governor of Old Oyo State, Dr Omololu Olunloyo, on Wednesday, said one Akintunde Olunloyo arraigned at the Igbosere Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, for N40 million fraud is not his son, as reported by the media.

The former governor, in a statement he personally signed and made available to Tribune Online on Wednesday said the report by some sections of the media, both online and print, was inaccurate and seriously damaging.

He chided the media for what he termed an attempt to malign his person, in order to dent his name, adding that the report had damaged both his national and international reputation in the areas of academics and public administration.

“The truth is that one Akintunde Olunloyo was arraigned by the Police Special Fraud Unit in Lagos on Monday over an alleged fraud of N40 million.

“The inaccuracy in the report, however, was that the said Akintunde is my son. He is not. I have no biological son called Akintunde and none of my sons is 40 years old.

“The man in question was born by my half-brother, the late Professor Olusegun Olunloyo. My grouse is that the media did not do the homework to verify the truth before going to the press. There are many Olunloyos here in Nigeria. We belong to the same family but that doesn’t qualify all of them as my biological sons.

“The media was happy that they have, at least, found something to bring me down this time. They should have taken time to consult and verify such report from me. I am very close to many of them. Even the one in Lagos with whom we share the same family area here in Kudeti, Ibadan, was happy to give such story a prominence on the front page. It’s sad, so sad,” he said.

The former governor disclosed that he had instituted a court action against all the media outfits that published the story.

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According to him, “I served the state and country with all the God-given endowment to me. I do not have any regret. However, if I feel I am not compensated as deemed fit, I should not be castigated for unjustifiable means.

“Those culpable in the publication will be dragged through the court. I have instructed my lawyer to file a brief against them. We shall meet in court.”

The media (Nigerian Tribune not inclusive) had, on Monday, reported that Akintude Olunloyo was arraigned on two counts alongside his entertainment firm, Code Media Limited, before the magistrates’ court in Igbosere, Lagos State.

The police had alleged that he approached a financial institution for a loan of N40 million with intent to defraud and that he made false representation to the financial institution that the money was to facilitate the renovation of his company’s entertainment premises and hall.

The magistrate, O. O. Oshin, granted him bail in the sum of N500,000 with one surety in like sum and adjourned the suit till June 5.