Deputy Senate leader denies N10bn fraud allegation

The Deputy Senate Leader, Lola Ashiru, has denied allegations that he personally received N10bn for road construction, insisting that government projects are funded through established budgetary processes and executed by relevant ministries, departments, and agencies.

Ashiru clarified on Saturday during the commissioning of a 48-shop modern market in Oro, Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, where he also listed infrastructure projects he said he had facilitated across the senatorial district.

Describing the allegation as inaccurate and misleading, the lawmaker said the appropriation acts provide a verifiable basis for determining approved projects and their allocations.

Ashiru explained that government projects are appropriated through established budgetary processes, with relevant ministries, departments, and agencies responsible for their execution, supervision, and monitoring.

“If indeed N10bn had been paid into my personal account, as alleged, would the relevant government agencies, including the ICPC and EFCC, not have questions to ask.

“The appropriation acts are publicly available and provide a verifiable basis for determining the projects approved and the amounts allocated,” he said.

The senator said he had been advised that the allegation could constitute defamation of character, but chose not to pursue the matter in court out of respect for traditional institutions.

“It is important to put the facts in the public domain and to ensure that the people are properly informed about projects executed across their communities,” he said.

Ashiru did not provide a detailed breakdown of the alleged N10bn allocation or documentary evidence of the funding and implementation status of the projects he listed in his speech.

Among the road projects he cited were the 1.2-kilometre Owode Market–Onireke–Adeleke Road, Omolere–Ikolaba–Lanlu–Ajia–Popo Road, Tafa Joba Road, Afolabi–Adie Road, Bulala–Obada Road, and Imam Batara Road.

Others included Tijani Akande Road in Ijagbo, a 2.6-kilometre portion of the Ikotun–Offa Road, the Ojude Okeki–Rabah–Afin–Illaro Road in Omu-Aran, the Ijagbo and Ikotun bridges, and a bridge at Oke-Daba in the Oro-Ago District.

He also listed road and flood-control infrastructure in Asalofa–Obatiwajoye among the projects facilitated across the district.

The Deputy Senate Leader stated that the projects mentioned represented only a selection of infrastructure interventions in Kwara South, adding that some were ongoing while others were awaiting funding.

“These aforementioned projects represent only a selection of ongoing infrastructural projects and many projects underway that are yet to be funded, while new projects will also commence very soon,” he said.

Ashiru identified several proposed projects awaiting funding, including rural road construction and rehabilitation in the Akowe Elere and Navy Hospital areas of Offa, community roads in Ipee and Ijagbo, and the rehabilitation of Ayo Opadokun Crescent in the Offa GRA.

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He also listed a proposed link bridge to the expanded section of the Kara cattle market in Irepodun Local Government Area, the reconstruction of a culvert and bridge at Epe-Opin, and the rehabilitation of the Aworo culvert at Oke-Daba in Oro-Ago.

Other proposed interventions included township roads in Offa and Oyun, rural roads and drainage from the Summit University junction to the Atari area of Offa, and market facilities in Erin-Ile, Popo, Babanloma, and Owode.

On healthcare, Ashiru said he had supported annual medical outreaches and facilitated health centres in communities including Epe-Opin, Kajola, Ilale, Durosoto, Offa, and Oko.

He also cited the supply of medical equipment and drugs to primary healthcare centres across the district, listing facilities in Erin-Ile, Abogunugun, Arandun, Isanlu-Isin, Oke-Ibukun in Isanlu-Isin, Owu-Isin, Oke-Ode, Owode, Koro, Idofin-Igbana, and Ilale.

The senator further stated that solar inverter systems had been installed in the palaces of five traditional rulers in the district, with each palace receiving a 10.2kVA system, eight 12-volt tubular batteries, and 20 solar panels.

The palaces listed were those of the Olupo of Ajase-Ipo, Aloffa of Illofa, Onira of Ira, Oniganmo of Ganmo, and Owa L’obbo of Obbo-Ile.

At the commissioning, the Oloro of Oro Kingdom, Oba Joel Olaniyi Oyatoye Titiloye Olufayo II, said the new market would provide business opportunities for 48 traders and contribute to the local economy.

“It will contribute significantly to the economy of any community that has such a project,” the monarch said. “This is a walk-up shop of 48 units, meaning it will contain 48 business owners in Oro Kingdom.”

He thanked Ashiru for facilitating the project and noted that the senator had monitored its execution from the beginning.

“This is huge, and we are very grateful for it,” he said. “We thank the senator for bringing this wonderful project to our kingdom.”

The monarch added that electricity was available at the market, while further improvements, including fencing and interlocking, were expected.

The commissioning also provided an opportunity for Ashiru to restate his political position ahead of the 2027 general elections, reaffirming his support for the All Progressives Congress and President Bola Tinubu.

The senator questioned the track record of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state, advising residents to consider the party’s previous performance when assessing their political options.

“The PDP is a political party, and people are free to make their political choices,” Ashiru said. “But we must also remember history. The PDP is not new to Kwara. They have been here before.”

“Politics must ultimately be about development, empowerment, opportunities, infrastructure, and the wellbeing of the people,” he added. “We will continue to be progressive, work for APC, and ensure that President Tinubu is not disgraced in Kwara State.”