The Ogun Assembly, on Thursday, confirmed the nomination of a former National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr Waheed Odusile as commissioner.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Assembly also confirmed another commissioner-nominee, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, who is the Vice Chancellor of Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED).
The Majority Leader of the Assembly, Mr Yusuf Sherif (APC-Ado Odo-Ota I), presented the report of the committee on the screening of the Gov. Dapo Abiodun’s nominees during plenary in Abeokuta.
Sherif explained that the curriculum vitae and the credentials of the two nominees were scrutinized, adding that they were both found suitable for the job.
“Members interviewed the nominees and in the course of the interview, it came to the fore that Arigbabu, who is the current Vice chancellor of TASUED, had been indicted by the state audit report submitted to the House Public Account Committee.
“Relying on the legal presumption which states that an individual is considered innocent until proven guilty by the court of law, the committee found Arigbabu eligible and suitable along with Odusile for appointment as commissioners in the state.
“The committee, therefore, recommended the screened nominees for the confirmation as commissioners in the state, in consonance with the provision of Section 192, subsection 2 of the 1999 Constitution.
“However, if the public account and anti-corruption committee finds anyone guilty of any misdemeanor, such a person, no matter the post he/she occupies in the state, will be made to undergo necessary legislative scrutiny and penalties,” he said.
The majority leader, thereafter, moved the motion for the adoption of the report, while it was seconded by Sylvester Abiodun (PDP-Ijebu North I).
The Speaker of the Assembly, Mr Olakunle Oluomo (APC–Ifo1), said that since the nominees had been confirmed, the governor could go ahead to inaugurate them.
Also during plenary, the Assembly summoned the immediate past Managing Director of State Property and Investment Corporation (OPIC), Babajide Odusolu, to reappear before it over the administration of funds during his tenure.
The speaker said that the lawmakers were not pleased with Odusolu’s presentations during his appearance before the Committee on Public Accounts and Anti-corruption.
He directed Odusolu to reappear before the committee on Nov. 9, to defend all the questions put forward by the lawmakers on financial and sundry issues, with supporting documents.
