My inclusion in Akala fraud trial political, says Babalola, Oyo PDP guber aspirant

A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in Oyo state, Femi Babalola, has described his inclusion in an ongoing N11.5b fraud charge by the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as political.

Babalola, who was the guest at the maiden edition of the “Aspirants’ Forum” of the Oyo state Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) on Friday, alleged that the incumbent All Progressives Congress (APC) government in the state had involved him to thwart his governorship ambition.

The aspirant, an engineer and businessman, was a major government contractor during the Adebayo Alao-Akala administration in the state.

The EFCC had dragged him; the former governor (Alao-Akala); and the incumbent Senate Deputy Whip and the state’s former commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hosea Agboola, before the state High Court for allegedly spending government funds to the tune of N11.5b without following due process. They pleaded not guilty to the allegations.

The accused persons are currently in the Court of Appeal where they are praying for a reversal of a ruling by Justice Akintunde Boade of the state High Court, in which he turned down a ‘no case’ submission proposed by their counsel.

While fielding questions from journalists, Babalola wondered why he had to be involved in the alleged fraud charge when he was not expected to determine whether a contract was properly budgeted for or not.

“People who take their time to read the charges will understand what I mean. The allegation there was that the contracts were not budgeted for. That should not be my business. It is all politics.

“I am a contractor. It is not my duty to go and find out about whether a project was appropriated for in the budget or not. The government called for bidding, we showed interest and won the contract. I think that is all I need to do in the circumstance,” he said.

He also queried why his name had to be singled out for inclusion in the prosecution as, according to him, there are other 12 companies involved in the execution of the projects, while his was only supervising.

Babalola, while commenting on the protracted crisis within the PDP in the state, said it was normal for people to bicker when they have divergent interests and opinions.

He assured that the many factions in the party would come together to support a candidate for the election as soon as he is presented.

The aspirant used the opportunity to present his congratulatory letter to the chapel on the election of its new executive committee, pledging more fruitful relationship with members.