Nigeria’s anti-corruption agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), interrogated Prof. Shola Olatunde Adepoju, Chairman of the Governing Council of the Federal College of Education, Ilawe Ekiti, on Tuesday over corruption allegations tied to his tenure as Director General of the Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN) in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Adepoju, who served as FRIN Director-General from March 2015 to March 2023, is accused of diverting government properties during his tenure.
Despite these allegations, he was appointed by President Bola Tinubu in June 2024 to his current role.
According to sources, Adepoju was initially invited by the EFCC in August to respond to the allegations but only honored the invitation this Tuesday.
A document obtained by News360 Nigeria revealed that the EFCC summoned Adepoju to its Ibadan office a month after his appointment as Chairman to address the alleged fraudulent activities under his watch as FRIN boss.
He was invited to the Commission’s office through a letter dated August 12, 2024 with Ref CR: 3000/EFCC/IB/SIT/FIR/VOL.2/069. The letter was signed by Hauwa G. Ringim, Ag. Zonal Director, Ibadan, Oyo State.
The invitation which was addressed to the current 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.”
The EFCC had in a previous letter to Adepoju with Ref CR: 3000/EFCC/IB/SIT/FIR/VOL.1/069 dated April 22, 2024, titled: “Investigation Activities,” asked him to furnish the commission with the account details in which payments were received, citing an earlier communication.
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.
However, a source privy to the case told News360 Nigeria that Adepoju finally showed face on Tuesday, September 24, 2024 at Ibadan Zonal office, about a month after his invitation date.
According to the source, the President’s appointee was grilled on various allegations bordering on diverting government properties, specifically exotic vehicles meant for the institute’s operations, in collusion with the institute’s human resources director, Olufemi Michael Hastrup.
Meanwhile, the EFCC spokesman, Dele Oyewale, on Thursday, confirmed to our sources that Adepoju was interrogated at their Ibadan office. He explained that the commission has commenced full investigation into all the allegations against him.
