AKEEM NAFIU and ERIC IKHILAE, Lagos - 23.08.2006

The three commissioners, Chief Boboye Olanipekun, Kayode Osho and Richard Toyin Ojo, are in charge of Agriculture, Works and Finance, respectively.

They were accused alongside Gbenga James and Biological Concepts Nigeria Limited of fraudulently concealing the true source of about N27.5m being part of the amount meant for the execution of the Ekiti State integrated poultry project.

According to the charge sheet No. FHC/L/CS/188, the offence was allegedly committed between May, 2004 and April, 2006.

The 12-count charge alleged that Chief Boboye Olanipekun and Gbenga James on the 29th of September, 2004 in Ado-Ekiti, collaborated with Biological Concepts Nigeria Limited to conceal the genuine origin of the sum of N2.5 million.

The charge sheet further alleged that Kayode Osho sometime in December, 2005 in Ado Ekiti, collaborated with Gbenga James and Biological Concepts Nigeria Limited to conceal the genuine origin of the sum of N8.5 million while Richard Toyin Ojo was accused of accepting the cash payment of the sum of N1 million from Biological Concepts of Nigeria Limited.

Also, in one of the charges, Gbenga James, Biological Concepts Nigeria Limited and Kayode Osho were accused of converting the sum of N720,000 from the money meant for the execution of Ekiti State integrated poultry project.

It will be recalled that Gbenga James is currently undergoing trial alongside Goke Olatunji a personal assistant of the Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, for alleged money laundering and illegal diversion of public funds.

When contacted for the Ekiti State government’s comments on the matter, the Chief Press Secretary to the state governor, Elder Idowu Adelusi, said he was not aware of such a development.