We won’t drop N4.3bn secret account probe

TRACKING____The Ondo State House of Assembly on Thursday said the investigation into the N4.3bn allegedly kept in a secret account was still ongoing.

The House last Thursday summoned the state Commissioner for Finance, Mr Wale Akinterinwa, and the state Accountant General, Mr Laolu Akindolire, over the matter, as they alleged the withdrawal of the money without being appropriated for.

The two were ordered to send the necessary documents on the matter to the Assembly by Thursday this week.

Addressing the House on the matter during plenary, the Chairman of the House Committee on Public Accounts, Mr Edamisan Ademola, said the committee had received the documents from the finance commissioner, and work would begin on it immediately.

He said, “We will get to the root of the matter in spite of intimidation.”

In his remarks, Speaker of the House of Assembly, Mr Bamidele Oloyeloogun, acknowledged the receipt of documents.

He said, “No one is being alleged of fraud as being speculated in the media. The ongoing investigation into the N4.3bn financial transaction, which is in the public domain, is in line with the constitutional responsibility of the House.

“After a financial year, it is the standard practice that auditor’s report would be forwarded to the Public Accounts Committee of the House while MDAs with queries will be called for questioning.”

After that, the Speaker announced that the House would go on recess for one month.