Odusolu vs OGHA: Adegboruwa issues cease and desist demand on OGHA

Lagos based activist and rights lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN), has asked the Ogun State House of Assembly (OGHA), to cease and desist from further media trial on his client, Babajide Odusolu, a former Managing Director of the Ogun State Property Investment Corporation (OPIC), on criminal allegations that have not been proved before any competent court of law, in due deference to and respect for his fundamental rights guaranteed by law.

He further requested on behalf of Odusolu, certified true copies of proceedings and report of the Public Accounts and Anti-Corruption Committee (PAAC) of the OGHA which were reportedly adopted by OGHA, the resolution adopted and the votes and proceedings of OGHA of September 17, 2021.

Adegboruwa, who described his Odusolu as a legal practitioner of repute and an astute estate developer, said he carried out his duty as the Managing Director of Ogun State Property Investment Corporation and Special Adviser to the former Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, excellently without any indictment howsoever.

According to him, Odusolu was invited by OGHA around October 2020 through a letter, to appear at the sitting of the Public Accounts and Anti-Corruption Committee of OGHA to clarify some alleged irregularities in respect of the activities of the Ogun Property Investment Corporation (OPIC), adding that prior to the receipt of the letter, he never received any complaint, allegations, charges or queries in any manner in respect of his tenure as the Managing Director of OPIC.

He added that his client dutifully attended the sitting of the PAAC only to be confronted with a hostile atmosphere, premeditated and calculated to embarrass him as frivolous, bogus and mendacious allegations of alleged misappropriation of funds of OPIC, amongst others, for which he had not been previously informed, were brandished by members of PAAC.

Adegboruwa alleged that “Odusolu was heckled and badgered in a riotous manner, intimidated thoroughly and bullied by the apparently hostile legislative members of the said Committee, who appeared to be on a set sinister mission against him. To date, no formal allegations have been raised against our Client by PAAC or OGHA.

He alleged that not long after the proceedings of PAAC on October 13, 2020, Odusolu was shocked with screaming headlines on social and traditional media of investigation of alleged sharp practices and related fraudulent activities said to have been perpetrated during his tenure as Managing Director of OPIC allegedly instigated by OGHA.

“As you are well aware, the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as Amended) grants to our client and indeed every citizen of Nigeria the right to be presumed innocent of any criminal allegation until the contrary is proved in a competent court of law (certainly not PAAC/OGHA) following a proper trial, whereas OGHA, by its press release to several media houses, was conducting a media trial against our client in order to secure an undue advantage in the court of public opinion and to scandalize him, albeit unjustifiably.

“From the foregoing, it is clear that the primary target of OGHA in the media trial of our Client whilst the purported investigation by its committee was still ongoing was to instigate the law enforcement agencies against him in order to secure the restraint of his liberty and his civil rights.

“Till this moment, OGHA has not furnished our client with a copy of the report purportedly indicting him and also containing other far-reaching decisions against his civil rights and obligations, especially his reputation, liberty and freedom.

In the determination of the civil rights and obligations of any citizen of Nigeria, including our client, he must be given a fair hearing, especially where allegations of crime and/or financial impropriety are made of and concerning him,” Adegboruwa said.

He explained further that  OPIC is a Statutory Corporation that is regularly audited by auditors independently recommended by the Auditor-General of the State and the accounting processes, policies and standards are predefined, adding that the allegation of missing fund is false in its entirety.

“No money is missing, and a formal forensic audit will confirm that fact. OPIC is a statutory Corporation with legal personality, attempting to hold our client liable without any proven infractions directly attributable to him or obfuscating facts is unwarranted in the circumstances, it is a clear and brazen abuse of legislative privilege and by so doing, OGHA has done incalculable damage to our client’s reputation and by extension, de-marketing OPIC and Ogun State,” Adegboruwa claimed.

 

YOU SHOULD NOT MISS THESE HEADLINES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE

Lagos Is Second Least Liveable City In The World For 2021

Lagos is the second least liveable city in the world for the year 2021. This is according to the most recent annual ranking put together by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU)…

FACT CHECK: Did UNICEF Say Blocking Children’s Access To Pornography Constitutes Human Rights’ Infringement?

CLAIM 1: A Twitter user claims UNICEF said any efforts to block children from accessing pornography might infringe their human rights.

VERDICT: MISLEADING!