Alleged $22m fraud: OPC members move against Gani Adams

Alleged $22m fraud: OPC members move against Gani  

Adams




.The factional national coordinator of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Otunba Gani Adams, has been dragged before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly diverting $22 million.

 Daily Post reports that 26 aggrieved members of the organisation made allegation of fraud in a three-page petition submitted to the Lagos office of the commission on March 11. The petition which was dated March 4 was signed by 26 members of the national coordinating council of the organisation. 

The members alleged that Adams diverted $22 million, which he allegedly received on behalf of the group from the late Libyan president, Muamar Ghadaffi. 

The aggrieved OPC members, who signed the petition include Messrs Rasak Arogundade, Monsuru Akande, Adesina Akinpelu, Kehinde Ogunyale, Adeola Adeagbo, Ranti Akande, Gbenga Egunlusi, Lateef Oshodi, ‘Layiwola Ogunsolu, Olusoji Folorunso, Sunday Bankole, ‘Segun Olusanya, Sunday Adebayo and Idowu Akintunde.

 Others are Oyename Adebayo, Lateef Kaka, Oladipupu Musa, Musiliu Amusa, Lateef Ogungbayi, Morufu Salami, Rotimi Akinsowon, Taofik Hameed, Dauda Oyelowo, Yinka Olowoporoku, Adio Odewole and Alexander Adesina.

 “Besides funds stolen or misappropriated by Adams, there is also the case of about six million members (using Adams estimate of OPC membership strength during his pro-Jonathan campaigns) who are obligated to obtain the group’s identification cards at N2,500 each. From identity cards alone, Gani Adams pockets about N15 billion every year. 

“Adams equally diverted N150 million specially set aside by the NCC and meant for building a hotel for the OPC in each South- West state capital. This is besides the N100 million or more, also made by encouraging unwary members to buy shares in the hotel project. The hotel scheme was conceived in 2007 but has failed to see the light of the day. 

“This situation is no longer acceptable to us and the generality of the OPC cadre who have been at the receiving end of Adams misdemeanour. Ours has been for too long, like the proverbial masquerade that farted, it can only bear the nauseating stink until it is dissipated with time,” the petition reads in part. 

Adams, who responded to the allegation through his personal assistant, Prince Olalekan Segun Akanni, told the petitioners that if they have evidence to show, they would meet at the commission’s office. 

“Those behind the petition are expelled members of the group who are seeking relevance by saying the same things for a long time without anything to show for it. 

“One of the vocals among them has been trying to get the attention of the leader and has even demanded a certain amount of money for him to ditch his co-rebels,” he said.

The Oyo state secretary of OPC, Comrade Julius Olajide last week described as baseless, accusations against Adams, by “an expelled member of the congress, Shina Akinpelu.” 

Olajide in a statement challenged Akinpelu to reveal all he claims he knows, saying: “Now, the allegation is that it is Manchester in England, Lekki in Lagos, Tema in Ghana and Okota in Lagos that Otunba Gani Adams has houses.”