The Governing Council of Osun state College of Education, OSCOED, Ila Orangun ,has announced the suspension of the institution’s Provost, Professor Jimoh Afolabi noting that this was done after forwarding supporting and factual details that backed their decision to Governor Ademola Adeleke, pending the conclusion of investigation into the allegations leveled against him.
The council also noted that the decision to suspend Jimoh followed due process while accusing him of concealment of official documents, lack of accountability and misappropriation of funds.
He was also accused of misleading the public with sensational news containing lies and blackmail against the government , the governing council, among others.
The Governing Council of Osun state College of Education, Ila Orangun in a statement made available to Team@orientactualmags.com on Monday by its Chairman, ,Dr Peter Babalola accused Professor Jimoh Afolabi of feeding the public with lies against the Governor Ademola Adeleke administration and the Governing Council.
Dr Peter Babalola asserted that there is an evidence to show that Professor Jimoh Afolabi in conjunction with the retired Bursar of the institution, Dr Rasheed Oyedeji whose tenure ended on September 30 , 2023, awarded a contract that has Three hundred and Twenty million (N320,000,000.00) naira as its project cost to an unknown contractor without the knowledge of the governing council that had come into being at the period in question.
‘It has been discovered that he vandalized OSCOED, turned the college into personal property, contracted the running of the bottled water company to his wife, who was said to pay One million (N1,000,000.00) naira annually to the institution, while the college owns the delivery truck, pays the driver, and services the truck at intervals’ the statement said.
The governing council chairman asserted that Professor Jimoh Afolabi has only tried to play the victim alleging that for the accreditation process, he had received the notification and concealed it from the management and governing council for months, until he was asked to release it during the board meeting adding that he also prevented the governing council from assessing Tetfund.
In the process of making funds available to put necessary amenities in place for the accreditation process, the suspended Provost, he added, allegedly tried to make the government release Two hundred million (N200,000,000.00) naira, and when he saw that his antics were not accepted, being the signatory to the bank account of the college, he instructed the bank not to release money to the governing council for the accreditation process, while one of the financial institutions in the state was approached for Thirty Five million (N35,000,000.00) naira loan to facilitate the provision of the amenities in question.
Professor Jimoh Afolabi and others whose names were not disclosed were also accused of sabotaging efforts made to put necessary equipment in place for the accreditation process at the library, and other necessary things, submitting that English language is not part of the accredited courses.
‘Before he used the media to blackmail Osun state government on Sunday January 7, 2024, the governing council had already set up a panel, which had sent a letter to him and asked him to appear before it on Monday ,January 8, 2024’ he submitted.
Dr Peter Babalola added that the council had also sent a letter to the Ministry of Education with regard to the actions taken by the Provost, and asked that embargo be placed on the institution’s bank account, and this had according to him helped to save about Fifty Five million (N55,000,000.00) naira till date.
He maintained that the Governing Council had sequel to its inauguration hit the ground running by monitoring the way things are done at the institution, blocking leakages, and putting amenities in place as part of the efforts to develop the college, adding that the new structures there stand as evidence of infrastructural development at the institution.
He also reacted to allegations of holding Governing Council meeting weekly noting that the council has never contravened the circular guiding its meetings.
He also explained that the Council Chairman, Secretary and members were only at the institution everyday for two weeks during the accreditation exercise , submitting that council meeting was not held weekly as alleged while council members have not also received Six hundred thousand naira (N600,000.00) each as alleged.
The statement also noted that while the sitting allowance is thirty thousand (N30,000.00) naira as approved by the government, they have not however been paid all.
The OSCOED Governing Council recalled that Professor Jimoh Afolabi and the retired Bursar, Dr Rasheed Oyedeji were questioned by the Auditor General of the state and asked to explain the alleged misappropriation of Four hundred and Twenty million (N420,000,000.00) naira belonging to the institution in year 2021.
Babalola submitted that the Governor Ademola Adeleke administration has promised the good people of Osun state good governance, and he will therefore not allow anyone to manipulate the public with false statements, while noting that making an attempt to blackmail the governing council will not deter the government from getting to the roots of the allegations raised against Jimoh and he has urged the public to beware of misinformation- Team@orientactualmags.com Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08059100286, 09094171980. Thank you
