Staff Audit: Adeleke's Spokesperson Accuses Consultant of Media Trial, Threatens Legal Action

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By Waliu Adetokun, Osogbo

The spokesperson to the Governor of Osun State, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, on Wednesday challenged Sally Tibbot Limited and it’s lead counsel, Jiti Ogunye, to submit any evidence in their possession to anti graft agencies rather than continue what he described as a media trial against officials of the Osun state government.

Reacting to a recent interview granted by the payroll consulting firm, Rasheed said the the matter concerning the staff audit is already under investigation by relevant anti-corruption agencies.

The spokesperson questioned why the consultant allegedly chose to ventilate her claims on national television rather than allow due process to its course.

According to Olawale ”The matter is under investigation by the anti graft agencies.
If the consultant has any additional evidence beyond her report and that of the re-verification committee, she should submit same to the investigators instead of junketing from one media station to another.”

“It is surprising that despite the ongoing investigation, the consultant and her legal team have embarked on a media campaign,” Resheed stated, stressing that the television station involved allegedly did not grant the state government that right of reply.

Meanwhile, The spokesperson commended Chief of Staff to the Governor, Alhaji Kazeem Akinleye and described him as a strong buffer who acted in the interest of Osun state.

He noted that Sally Tibbot was engaged in January 2023, shortly after the current administration assumed office, and audited what he described as the payroll structure inherited from the previous administration.

“She came in by January 2023 when Mr governor was barely two months in the office.

“This was reflected in her official report submitted to the state. The audited payroll was clearly that of the previous administration,” he said.

According to the spokesperson, the consultant had acknowledged that about 12,000 Workers were injected into the payroll under the former administration.

“She confirmed that the previous administration injected 12,000 workers into the payroll, which again shows that what she audited was the payroll of the former government.

“The chief of staff creditably performed his duties by stopping what would have defrauded the state and destroyed the careers of hundreds of legitimate workers who were listed as ghost workers without justification,” he added.

The spokesperson further accused the consultant of unlawfully recording and circulating telephone conversations involving the Chief of staff.

“In her obsession with the Chief of Staff, the consultant violated the law by recording and circulating calls without authorization and sharing them on national television with Intent to defame his person.

“That is a grave breach of cybercrime and data laws.

“She will soon get court papers,” he said.

Rasheed maintained that neither the chief of staff nor the Governor regrets their handling of the matter.

“Neither the Governor nor the Chief of Staff had any regret for upholding due process, the rule of law, labour law and anti- corruption status in the staff audit matter.

“The state and it’s people are proud of their decision to reject inducement and uphold public integrity and transparency”, he added.