Gov Adeleke suspends College of Education provost over alleged N200m fraud

Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has approved the immediate suspension of the provost of Ila Oragun College of Education, Dr Jimoh Afolabi, over alleged financial impropriety.

Adeleke, in a statement by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, on Friday in Osogbo, said that the suspension of the provost followed the interim report of an investigative panel headed by his Chief of Staff, Kazeem Akinleye.

“For the Provost, the committee reviewed three previous reports of investigations into various allegations of financial malfeasance, abuse of power and corruption levelled against him dating 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 the immediate suspension of the provost.

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

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NAN reported that the governor had on January 9, 2024, set up a three-man committee to probe the alleged misappropriation of N200 million at the state-owned College of Education, Ila-Orangun.

The provost of the college and the chairman of its governing council, Dr Peter Babalola, had been trading accusations over the alleged mismanagement of the N200 million belonging to the college.

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

It said the allegation of fraud of over N200 million levelled against the council chairman could not be substantiated with documentary proof or transaction details.

The statement said the cash advance of N3 million to the council chairman was found to be within the college’s financial regulations, with all documentation verified by the committee.