Two prominent civil society organisations, the Civil Society Groups for Good Governance (CSGGG) and Integrity Advocacy for Development Initiative (IADI), have urged those alleging wrongdoing by Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola to provide verifiable evidence. The organisations made this call after conducting field monitoring of projects and empowerment programmes linked to the senator, who chairs the Senate Committee on Appropriations.
The groups, led by Chief Dominic Ogakwu of CSGGG and Comrade Ofomhi Christopher of IADI, visited project sites, inspected infrastructure, and interacted with beneficiaries. Their monitoring exercises covered various sectors, including roads, education, electricity, healthcare, and community development. They also observed empowerment programmes benefiting traders, artisans, farmers, youths, and students.
According to Ogakwu, the projects monitored were physical, identifiable, and verifiable interventions in communities, not just imaginary projects on paper. The organisations documented their findings through field observations and interactions with beneficiaries. They encountered officials of anti-corruption agencies, including the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), during some empowerment programmes.
The groups challenged those alleging diversion of public funds, procurement violations, or improper links between Adeola and contractors to provide specific, independently verifiable evidence. They stressed that allegations of financial diversion should be supported by identifiable financial trails, while claims concerning companies allegedly linked to Adeola should be backed by corporate records and beneficial ownership information.
The organisations also called for details of specific contracts and procurement transactions where violations or inflation have been alleged. They urged residents of Ogun State and the public to independently verify both the projects and the allegations, rather than relying solely on claims from either side.
Executive Director of IADI, Comrade Ofomhi Christopher, cautioned that allegations should not be treated as established facts merely because they have been circulated in the media or on social media. He emphasised that advocacy should be based on facts and verifiable evidence, and that civil society organisations should not allow their platforms to be used in political contests.
The groups urged those behind the allegations to submit any evidence to anti-corruption and law-enforcement agencies for investigation. They maintained that anyone found to have misappropriated public resources should face the law, irrespective of political affiliation or status.
Key points
- The civil society organisations are demanding verifiable evidence to substantiate allegations of wrongdoing by Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola.
- The groups have conducted field monitoring of projects and empowerment programmes linked to Adeola.
- They are urging the public to independently verify both the projects and the allegations surrounding them.
