The Lawmaker representing Akoko Northeast state constituency in the Ondo state house of Assembly, Honourable Rasheed Elegbeleye has given some fresh insight into the N4.3 Billion reportedly kept in secret by the late Dr. Olusegun Agagu led government of Ondo.
Elegbeleye, who is a member of the Public Account Committee of the house in an exclusive interview with Nigerian cable news online on Thursday said the money, kept in a Zenith Bank account was unravelled by his committee during its investigations.
The lawmaker said the Mimiko led administration had no knowledge of the money because there was no proper handing-over from the Agagu government after the court sack in 2009.
According to him “I’m a member of the Public Account Committee (PAC), and we discovered the issue during our investigations. The money is part of the what accrued to the Local governments between 2003 and 2009.”
He also said the committee is seeking clarifications because of the expected interest yield and the refusal of the Bank to willingly brief the government on the issue.
“We have called the commissioner for finance, but we were not satisfied we his explanation on it. We have also invited the accountant general and auditor general of the state to tell us more about the money. The are expected to appear before the house today, Thursday.
“We are asking questions because of the expected interest yield on the money after about ten years. We also want to know why the Bank has refused to inform the government, before it was discovered.” Elegbeleye said.
The Finance Commissioner Wale Akinterinwa had told the lawmakers that he facilitated the discovery of the money stashed in a bank account.
He said the money has been ploughed into the revenue account of government and debunked allegations that a consultant was hired in the course of retrieving the N4.3bn.
