Adeleke suspends college of education provost over ‘financial impropriety’

Ademola Adeleke, governor of Osun, has approved the “immediate suspension” of Jimoh Afolabi, the provost of Ila Oragun College of Education, over alleged financial impropriety.

On January 9, the governor had reportedly set up a three-man committee to probe the alleged misappropriation of N200 million at the state-owned college.

Afolabi and Peter Babalola, chairman of the college governing council, had been trading accusations over the mismanagement of the N200 million.

Adeleke, in a statement on Friday by Olawale Rasheed, his spokesperson, said the suspension of the provost followed the interim report of the panel.

The statement said the committee reviewed three previous reports of investigations into various allegations of financial malfeasance, abuse of power and corruption levelled against Afolabi from past administrations to date.

“The committee after a thorough review of the reports including that of the State House of Assembly alongside its own investigation, recommended immediate suspension of the Provost,” the statement reads.

“Sequel to the findings of the investigative panel, the provost is hereby suspended on the grounds of financial impropriety, concealment of official information/ records; and failure to update the Governing Council on the important issues of the college.”

The governor also approved the recommendation of the committee that Babalola should remain in office as there was no proven case of abuse of power or financial wrongdoings against him.

“Based on a thorough review, the committee discovered that the allegation of N200m fraud levelled against the Chairman of the Governing Council is untrue, diversionary, baseless and fallacious,” Rasheed said.

“Documentary evidence (voucher) revealed that he only collected the sum of N3 million as cash advance, which is officially allowed.

“The Committee is billed to submit its final report at a later date.”

Meanwhile, the governor has approved the appointment of Jimoh Ayanda as the acting provost of the college.