A fresh dispute has erupted in the Ondo State House of Assembly, with lawmaker, Olawumi Fayemi-Obayelu, accusing the Speaker, Olamide Oladiji, of alleged financial misconduct and claiming she is facing threats over her investigation into ₦44 million released by OSOPADEC.
Fayemi-Obayelu, who represents Ilaje Constituency II, alleged that funds meant for development projects in riverine communities were mismanaged, accusing the Speaker and officials of the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission of complicity.
She claimed her investigation uncovered allegations of bribery, forgery and corruption, adding that she had received threats to stop her probe.
The lawmaker also called on the Speaker to resign or face impeachment, claiming that two-thirds of members of the Assembly had backed the move.
Reports from the Assembly indicate that about 21 lawmakers had signed an impeachment notice against Oladiji over the alleged ₦44 million OSOPADEC funds. However, the Speaker has denied all allegations, describing them as false, baseless and politically motivated.
Oladiji challenged Fayemi-Obayelu to provide evidence to support her claims and dismissed reports of an impeachment plot as an attempt to destabilise the legislative arm of government.
On the alleged threat to the lawmaker’s life, the Speaker said security agencies should handle any investigation, insisting he had no involvement in any such action.
He maintained that he remained a law-abiding citizen and that similar allegations had never been made against him during his three years as Speaker.
