The Ondo State House of Assembly has denied rumour that its speaker, Rt. Hon. Bamidele Oloyelogun, was invited by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) over an alleged financial fraud.
Hon. Olugbenga Omole, the Chairman, House Committee on Information, Youth and Sports Development, stated this on Monday during a press conference on several bills for public hearings this week.
Omole explained that there was no iota of truth in the online rumour concerning said invitation.
“There has been rumour on online and conventional media that Mr Speaker has been invited by EFCC but like I often say, it is only genuine if said ource of information is from the House of Assembly.
“If you get your information from other place, then it is left for you. As at this moment that we are having this press conference, Mr Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Bamidele Oloyelogun, has not been invited by the EFCC” Omole said.
He noted that there was an issue whereby a petition was written to the EFCC by a member of the assembly, adding that those concerned had been invited by the commission.
Ban on open grazing
In another vein, the House’s spokesman stated that there would be a public hearing on regulation of rearing and cattle grazing in the state on Wednesday.
Omole recalled that the proclamation of the state governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, on ban on open grazing must be backed up with a law, hence the need for the public hearing.
“The Ondo State has taken a position that illegal occupants in our forests should vacate and that there should be a ban on open grazing and under age grazing.
“But for the statement to come to reality there must be a law and Mr Governor has sent a bill to the assembly and as a responsible arm of government, we cannot not just take the bill to plenary and do it, we have to do public hearing because it is an important bill,” he said.
According to him, stakeholders will be given opportunities to air their opinions.
Other bills
In his remarks, Hon. Simeon Borokini, the Chairman, House Committee on Violence Against Person/Gender Related Matters, said that there would be public hearing on a bill concerning elimination of violence against person/gender later today.
Borokini explained that the bill would provide maximum and effective remedies and appropriate punishments, adding that Gov. Akeredolu had decided to establish an agency for gender-based issues.
Hon. Abiodun Faleye, the Chairman of the House Committee on Health Matters, noted that there was a bill on establishment of the Ondo State Drugs and Health Commodity Management Agency.
Faleye said that the bill, which would be given to public hearing on Thursday if passed to law would regulate drugs and centralise distribution of drugs in the state.
According to him, the bill will ensure that drugs coming in and going out to individuals does not injure anybody.
He added that the agency, which would be under the state Ministry of Health, would provide jobs.
Faleye said that the public hearing would enable citizens’ participation for betterment of the state and for its good health.
Emmanuel Ukoh
