As the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) begins investigation into the alleged diversion of monthly allocations to the 30 local councils in Osun State – between November 2010 and March 2016 by Governor Rauf Aregbesola and some officials of his government, the Civil Societies Coalition for the Emancipation of Osun State (CSCEOS) has submitted additional documentary evidence as required by the ant-graft agency.

According to a statement by the group’s Directorate of Media and Strategy, made available to newsmenon Thursday, CSCEOS Chairman, Comrade Alimi Sulaiman Adeniyi, had on Wednesday submitted more documentary evidence dated June 7, 2016, to the EFCC “in order to help the agency get to the root of the mind-boggling allegation of local governments’ funds diversion leveled against the state officials. The documents, he said, were submitted to the Head, Ibadan Zonal Office of the EFCC, Mr Akaninyene Ezima, through another official, Mr. Richard Adejumo, “who assured that the anti-graft body would unravel the issue, no matter whose ox is gored.”

Comrade Adeniyi regretted that the greatest problem facing the country today is corruption which, he said, has made some governors to be richer than their states.

The group noted that the fresh materials were submitted to the anti-graft agency in response to its request “for more convincing evidences” on the subject matter, when a representative of CSCEOS appeared before the commission on May 17, 2016. It challenged the EFCC to work hard in ensuring that all the culprits in this matter “were brought to justice, as is applicable in the ongoing Dasuki ‘armsgate’ investigation.”

Recall that the anti-graft agency had earlier invited the rights group, through an invitation letter dated May 13, 2016 titled ‘Investigation Activities: Acknowledgement/Invitation Letter’, signed by EFCC’s Zonal Head, Mr Ezima.

The new documentary evidences letter, copy of which was attached, reads in part: “In view ofour commitment to transparency in governance as being postulated by the change mantra of President Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR), and efforts to ensure that all corrupt practices became a thing of the past in our society: as stipulated in section 15(5) of the amended 1999 Constitution, in consonance with section 24(e) of the same Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It is against this background that we are submitting more documentary evidences on the allegation of local governments’ funds diversion leveled against the Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola and some of the state and local government officials, in the alleged financial crimes for the period of November 2010 to March 2016.

“It is also our belief that section 308 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, is protecting the President and Vice-President and Governors and Deputy Governors from prosecution, pending the time being of occupying such exalted executive positions. But the same constitution does not protect them from investigation by the state security agents for possible prosecution over alleged financial crime of this nature after leaving office, as interpreted by the Supreme Court under the watch of Justice Muhammed Uwais in Gani Fawehinmi vs Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Inspector- General of Police, and Ors, on forgery case saga.”

•Photo shows Governor Aregbesola.