Ajimobi, Deputy, SSG, Speaker, others left government with SUVs worth over N1bn + memos from Lekan Alli, SUBEB Chairman

Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) and Hilux Pick Up vans worth over N1 billion were distributed by former governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, to himself and others a few weeks before leaving office on May 29.
Others who benefitted are Ajimobi’s Aide de Camp (ADC), the Deputy Governor, Moses Alake Adeyemo; Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Ishmael Olalekan Alli; Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board, A.O. Makanjuola, and others.

According to documents seen by Freedom Online, Alli wrote a memo entitled ‘Exit package for Principal Officers of Government’ to Ajimobi on May 4 that based on law and practice in other South West states, the governor should give approval for the vehicles to be given out free of charge.
“Based on the above, I am recommending for Your Excellency’s approval that the Governor, Deputy Governor and any other principal/political appointee be considered as deserving of such an exit package free of charge as may be approved by Your Excellency”, he wrote.
Ajimobi approved it immediately.
Makanjuola, one of the beneficiaries, had earlier written on April 18 to Ajimobi, requesting for her Toyota Highlander 2014 Model as her exit package.
“May I humbly request your gracious approval for the allocation, as an exit privilege, of my official car – Toyota Highlander – 2014 Model, Reg. No. 06D 14 OY, Chassis No. 5TDBKRFH7DS025504 and Engine No. 2GRE632241X, Clour Blue, free of charge, in line with the exercise of Your Excellency’s discretionary power on the request.”
Ajimobi approved her request in 24 hours.

Documents show that from the Governor’s Fleet, Ajimobi gave himself a Lexus SUV, a Land Cruiser SUV was given to the Aide-De-Camp of the Governor and a Hilux Toyota to the Governor’s Escort Commander.
The Deputy Governor got a Toyota Land Cruiser and three Toyota Hilux pick up vans.
Alli got a brand new 2018 Toyota Land Cruiser Prado; Speaker of the House of Assembly got a full option Toyota Land Cruiser GX-R, 2016 Model; and the Head of Service, a Toyota Prado and a Toyota Hilux pick up.
One of the vehicles was said to have cost the State Government over N140 million.

In total, the cost of the vehicles have been put at over N1 billion.
A few days after Governor Seyi Makinde assumed office on May 29, he started asking for the vehicles but Ajimobi told him to face governance instead of focusing on mundane issues.
But, Makinde’s Chief of Staff, Chief Bisi Ilaka, has declared that the administration would ensure that “the vehicles are recovered”.