By OSAGIE OTABOR, Akure

The Peoples Democratic Party in Ondo State has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to begin investigation into the N4.3bn discovered in a secret bank account in the state.

It said it was important the EFCC investigate the lack of disclosure of the discovery of the fund and claims by the state government that the fund has been spent.

The Ondo PDP said Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu administration was economical with the truth and violated the law with its intentions not to disclose the receipt of such funds until it was recently probed by the Ondo State House of Assembly.

A statement by its spokesman, Zadok Akintoye, said the state government lied that the discovered funds was hidden in an account with the bank.

Akintoye noted that what was worrisome was that the state government never disclosed the said funds as part of the funds handed over to it as part of the assets it inherited.

He urged the bank and Governor Akeredolu to come clean on the fund and disclosed the wherabout of N10.7billion as accrued interest/earnings on the N4.3bn.

According to him, “If the funds were discovered as far back as February 2018, of what purpose and intent is the “revelation” as credited to the Commissioner for Information?

“How was the money accounted for in the records of state? If it was accounted as revenue earned, who was the consultant paid for its receipt?

“While we are of the opinion that this information was released for the purpose of mischief, it has become very pertinent that the Ondo State House of Assembly set aside party loyalty to do what it is statutory mandated to do in ensuring that public funds and resources are expended on behalf of the people according to the law.

“We use this opportunity to call on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to immediately investigate the allegations of misappropriation of public funds as noted in the response of the Commissioner for Information, wherein he said the funds had been spent on projects yet without such expenditure being legally appropriated.” (The Nation)

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