Shittu replaces ex-aide amid estacode controversy

Adebayo Shittu, minister of communication, has approved the appointment of Bolaji Kazeem as his new special assistant on media.

Henshaw Ogubike, the deputy director, press and public relations in the ministry, announced the appointment in a statement made available to NAN on Saturday.

According to the statement, Kazeem attended the University of Ibadan, International Institute of Journalism (IIJ) and Nasarawa State University for his higher and professional education including a master of public administration.

“Kazeem was a press secretary at the special duties office (SDO), office of the secretary to the government of the federation,” the statement read.

“He was part of the media team of the federal ministry of industry, trade and investment from 2007-2015 before he was posted to special duties office from the federal ministry of information.”

The appointment comes on the heels of the controversy-steeped sack of Victor Oluwadamilare, his former special assistant on media and Imam Tajudeen, special assistant on special duties.

Following his sack, a damning and allegations-littered letter written by Oluwadamilare had surfaced on social media.

Oluwadamilare said Shittu is referred to as “estacode minister” in the presidency, and accused him of acquiring over 12 houses in the last three years.

He said Shittu had not paid his emoluments since 2015.

The minister had responded by describing Oluwadamilare’s claims as “luciferous and satanic” and challenged him “to come out with evidence to support his nefarious claims, we can assuredly promise that he would have his day in court to prove these fictions”.

He said: “For the sake of clarity, the minister does not embark on a foreign trip that is not sanctioned by the President. If by regulation, the minister like any public or civil servant, is entitled to estacode, can it now be said that it is unlawful or criminal?”