Gov. Akala Says He Has Not Stolen Money

The outgoing governor of Oyo State, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala, today declared in Ibadan, Oyo State, Southwest Nigeria, that “I am not scared of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, after I might have left the office because my records are clean.”

Akala, who declared this during an interactive session with newsmen, also threatened the press that if they write anything against him after leaving office, “I will send a message to you whether good or bad. So you have to be very careful about what your write about me.

“Your profession is like my own (Police). A policeman is not born as a policeman, likewise a journalist is not born that way. Don’t forget that your profession does not have second hand value, so be careful.”

Clearing the air about allegations of N8.9 billion financial scam levelled against his administration, he said he did not embezzle any money, adding that he would not do anything to tarnish the image of his family.

According to him, “I have to protect my family name because it is my asset. That name, Alao-Akala, I did not use it for a long time because it is my father’s name and a name that my children bear.

“If my father did not make good use of the name, I would not be proud to bear it now. The name is well respected in Ogbomosho. So I will not rubbish it.”

He urged the press to verify information that the incoming government would give about him, stressing, “I am begging you in the name of God, please when you hear anything about Akala, verify before you go to press. Don’t allow anyone to use you and dump you. A word is enough for the wise.”

—Gbenro Adesina/Ibadan