The Osun State Government has ordered the immediate past governor of the state, Gboyega Oyetola, his wife, Kafayat, and other former appointees to immediately return assorted vehicles valued at N2.9 billion in their possession.

The state government alleged that the former officials went away with various models of vehicles without any legal basis for such action, adding that no law authorised any elected or appointed officials to go with state vehicles after completing their tenure of office.

According to a statement made available to The Star on Friday by Olawale Rasheed, the spokesperson to Governor Ademola Adeleke, the Chairman of the Asset Recovery Committee set up by the state government, Dr BT Salami, said due diligence has been conducted, adding that the committee has concluded that the affected past officials should return government vehicles in their possession.

Salami said: “This is the first batch of vehicles to be retrieved. We will soon come up with the second batch. All affected officials should return the vehicles in their possession immediately to avoid coercive procedures for recovery of State assets.

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“In the list of affected officials, former Governor Oyetola alone has 11 vehicles ranging from Lexus Jeep, Toyota Prado jeeps and assorted models of costly vehicles.

“The wife, Mrs Kafayat also has in her possession several brands of government vehicles which were taken away against provisions of the law.”

Other former officials listed included the immediate past Special Adviser on Security, former Chief Details, former Personal Assistant to Oyetola, former special assistants to the former governor, former Senior special assistants, former special advisers, former local government caretaker chairmen and members, among others.

Salami noted that the former deputy governor has more than seven government vehicles in his possession contrary to the provisions of the law.

A serving Senator, Oriolowo, was also directed to return to the Osun State Agricultural Development Programme five machines.

“All affected ex-officials are to urgently comply with the above request or risk enforcement procedures,” Salami added.

The Star