Babajide Akeredolu, the son of Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu has joined issues with the Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi over an alleged malicious and defamatory statement.
The deputy governor is the candidate of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) candidate for the October 10 gubernatorial election.
Ajayi claimed while on a campaign flag-off at Ore, Odigbo local government area on Saturday that the governor’s son benefitted to the tune of N433 million out of slush funds totalling N4.3 billion kept in a secret account ten years ago by a previous administration.
The deputy governor claimed that Babajide got the funds under the pretext of consultancy fees.
However, the governor’s son challenged the deputy governor to waive his immunity and meet him in court if he is sure of the allegation.
He accused Ajayi of defaming him for political gain.
Babajide said, “This deliberate, malicious and mendacious statement has been making the rounds online and on social media platforms.
“The unsubstantiated claim and accusation, designed to mislead the general public and calculated to malign my person for clear political gain, is not only wicked, treacherous and false but clearly most defamatory.
“The allegation, which has been making the round without a face to it has been refuted by the state government when it first surfaced. While I find it imperative to state unambiguously that I do not hold any political office, it is evil and most wicked to make such an allegation that exists mainly in the minds of Hon. Agboola, the ZLP candidate, and his ilk against me.
“I state with emphasis that it is the greatest disrespect and intentional distortion of facts for the said Gubernatorial candidate of the ZLP to state inter alia that I siphoned Four hundred and thirty-three million naira of Ondo State’s funds under the disguise of consultancy fees.
“This allegation which I deny can only come from someone so lowly and frivolous and unexpected of anyone who holds the high office of a Deputy Governor.
“The statement by Hon. Agboola Ajayi was calculated to disparage my person and credibility and it has caused severe damage to my reputation and professional interests.
“ln light of the above, I have instructed my lawyers to institute legal action against Hon. Agboola Ajayi to claim full damages for the harm the false and malicious statement he made has done to my reputation. He must prove this allegation in the court of law.”
According to Babajide, “lf there is any modicum of honesty in the ZLP candidate, I expect that he shows clear willingness to do the honourable thing by stripping himself of his immunity and accept the court process and prove his claims in the court of Law.”
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