Osun Judge Calls For Aregbesola's Impeachment Over Workers' Unpaid Salaries

In a 30-page petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime, Amnesty International, Transparency International among others, an Osun State judge, Justice Oloyede Folahanmi has urged the agencies and the state House of Assembly to investigate the alleged mismanagement of the state’s financial resources by the governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola and his deputy.

The petitioner further accused Aregbesola of acting in defiance of some sections of the constitution which bordered on the welfare of Osun indigenes, citing that there is no moral justification for their continued stay in office.

Folahanmi in his petition further declared that the governor seems not to have a clue of what he can do to salvage the problem in the state.

"Even Mr. Governor has admitted publicly, the fact that Osun is in financial quagmire and that he is clueless on how to pull her out of the doldrums. Mr. Governor’s argument that salaries can only be paid from statutory allocations is also faulty."

The Judge also puts the bulk of the blame of the crisis on the governor and his deputy whom he believes have thrown the State into a huge dept level.

"Consequently, the admitted inability of Mr. Governor and his deputy to pay pensions, salaries and allowances for periods ranging from eight to 11 months now, as a consequence of their own decision to accumulate debts beyond the capacity of the state’s internally generated revenue."

The petition finally called on the members of the State House of Assembly to investigte and prosecute government officials who have enriched themselves at the expense of the people of Osun State.

"To this end and for this reason I am sure other well -meaning and concerned members of the Osun community are hereby calling on honourable members of the state House of Assembly to pick up the gauntlet and redeem themselves by giving effect to the provisions of Sections 128 and 129 of the Constitution, empowering them to investigate and bring to justice, all those who have corruptly enriched themselves at the expense of Osun and her people."