Prof. Shola Olakunle Adepoju, the former Director-General of Nigeria’s Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN), accused of diverting government-owned vehicles for personal gain and multi-million-naira fraud, is one of the recently appointed chairmen of governing council of a federal institution of learning.
Adepoju was the Director-General of FRIN from March 31, 2015 to March 31, 2023.
However, he was appointed by President Bola Tinubu in June 2024 as Chairman, Governing Council of the Federal College of Education, Ilawe Ekiti. ...CONTINUE READING
“The President expects the new members of the governing boards of these institutions to perform their functions effectively and creditably and within the ambits of their statutory responsibilities,” a statement by then presidential spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale had read.
Some documents recently obtained by SaharaReporters revealed that Adepoju is currently being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The allegations against him include diverting government properties, specifically exotic vehicles meant for the institute’s operations, in collusion with the institute’s human resources director, Olufemi Michael Hastrup.
A document obtained by SaharaReporters revealed that a month after Adepoju’s appointment as the Chairman of the Governing Council of Federal College of Education, Ilawe Ekiti, the EFCC asked him to appear at its Ibadan office to give an account of the alleged fraud that took place under his watch as FRIN boss.
According to an EFCC letter dated August 12, he was invited to the Commission’s office through a letter with Ref CR: 3000/EFCC/IB/SIT/FIR/VOL.2/069 and signed by Hauwa G. Ringim, Ag. Zonal Director, Ibadan, Oyo State.
The invitation which was addressed to the Director General of FRIN stated, “This Commission is investigating a case in which the name of the above mentioned Former Director General of your organization, featured.
“In view of the above. you are kindly requested to inform him to attend an interview with the undersigned through SIT Team on Monday, 26th August, 2024 at No: 16A Reverend Oyebode Crescent, lyoganku GRA Ibadan. Oyo State.”
Earlier in a letter to Adepoju with Ref CR: 3000/EFCC/IB/SIT/FIR/VOL.1/069 dated April 22, 2024 and titled: “Investigation Activities,” the EFCC asked him to furnish the commission with the account details in which payments were received, citing previous correspondence.
In the letter signed by ACE II Hassan Saidu, FDC for then Ag. Zonal Director, Ibadan, the commission noted that the request was made pursuant to Section 38(1) and (2) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment Act, 2004 and Section 24 of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act. 2022.
“Our letter with Ref: CR: 3000/EFCC/IB/SIT/FIR/VOL1/032 dated 19th March, 2024 and your response with Ref:CG.516/1/33 dated 4th April, 2024 refers.
“In view of the above, you are further requested to furnish us with the account details in which the payments were received as requested in our earlier letter,” the letter partly read.
When contacted for comments on the appointment, Adepoju asked, “Does an allegation prove the crime has been committed? If you allege that somebody did something, is that person guilty? They are just very mischievous.
“You allege somebody, he has not been proven guilty, and you say the person is guilty; it is not done anywhere. They are just being mischievous. I don’t want to be prejudice to the EFCC investigation. The issue of selling exotic cars to myself is the allegations they (petitioners) made to EFCC.”
BACKGROUND
As FRIN boss, Adepoju was at multiple times accused of awarding fraudulent contracts without recourse to procedure and due process.
A source in the agency had told SaharaReporters that he ran the agency like a personal estate.
“The Director-General, Professor Adepoju Olusola has been found doing the following; withholding of staff deductions (Contributions of over N50,000,000) to co-operative society for the month of October 2020. Confirmed by IPPIS,” a source had told SaharaReporters.
“Illegal removal or deduction from salaries of staff (This is done randomly) with no reason, explanation and move to refund (He does not listen to anyone) for same October, 2020.
“Flouting of civil service rule in relation to promotion of staff. In the year 2020, promotion exercise was conducted, over 30%-40% of staff denied promotion even though they passed the examination, but he claimed there was no vacancy.
“By January 2021, those who got promoted received their letters and were promoted appropriately. To our amazement, by June 2021, part of those promoted and served their letters were given another promotion. We found out that they are his partners in crime in the institute.
“Imagine, someone got promoted to Grade Level 11 in January 2021 and received another promotion in June 2021 to Grade Level 13, in a space of five months.
“All efforts to have him explain this move proved abortive as he will never give room for questioning. He’s above the law and people are afraid to challenge him.”
In 2020, it was learnt that Adepoju returned N17 million, part of the over N50 million meant for cooperative societies in the institution which was diverted in 2020.
Documents seen by SaharaReporters showed that the N17 million was returned on January 23, 2022, by the then FIRN boss into one of the cooperative societies’ account numbers- 0012099396 with Stanbic IBTC Bank.
A recent report by Foundation of Investigative Journalism also revealed how Adepoju allegedly diverted government properties before leaving office in March 2024.
According to FIJ, some exotic vehicles purchased for the smooth operations of the institute were diverted by the former FRIN DG and Olufemi Michael Hastrup, the institute’s human resources director.
“Few months to the expiration of Adepoju’s second term, the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing undertook an inspection and valuation of some vehicles belonging to FRIN,” the report read.
“According to a document exclusively obtained by FIJ, five vehicles were inspected and valued at disingenuously low rates. The mechanical division of the works ministry valued two Toyota Prado cars, a Toyota Hilux, a Volkswagen Bettle and a Kia Cerato at ridiculous amounts.
“While the first valuation report containing details of the two Prado and Hilux vehicles bearing the stamp of the mechanical division was dated December 12, 2022, the second report bore the stamp of the Federal Comptroller of Works of the same works ministry and was undated.
“As stated in the reports, the Toyota Prado purchased in 2019 at the rate of N78 million with the chassis number JTEBU3PFJ1KK172524 was determined to be worth N7 million.
“The second Toyota Prado acquired in 2013 for N21 million with the chassis number JTEBU9FJ1D5002342 was determined to be worth N800,000
“The institute bought the Toyota Hilux with the chassis number MROHX8CD7K1389911 in 2018 for N18 million. In the valuation report, it was said to be worth N1 million.”
“FIJ also gathered that the Volkwagen and Kia Cerato earlier mentioned were valued at N2,000 and N20,000 respectively. At the time of the report, both vehicles had been used for six years by FRIN. All of the vehicles mentioned in the reports have been illegally taken away by the former FRIN bosses,” a source told FIJ.
“In particular, Hastrup was said to have bought a Land Cruiser carrying an official number plate FRIN-01FG belonging to the office of the director-general.”
-SaharaReporters
