The Ondo State Government has announced the immediate dismissal of the Special Assistant on Forestry to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa for demanding a ₦30 million bribe from timber dealers in the state.
The aide, Mr. Adeboye Taofiq Ewenla, was sacked after a recorded conversation between him and the merchants was played for the governor, who promptly ordered his termination.
Ewenla’s dismissal was confirmed in a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Ebenezer Adeniyan. The statement explained that the dismissal followed allegations of bribery and intimidation made against Ewenla by some timber merchants in the state.
“Ewenla was reportedly caught on tape telling the timber operator that the money must be paid before timber merchants in Ondo would be allowed to operate in the Ondo Central area under his jurisdiction. He didn’t realize he was being recorded while making the threat,” a source informed our reporter.
Adeniyan also revealed in the statement that Governor Aiyedatiwa has ordered an investigation into the activities of those responsible for managing the state’s forest reserves.
“A replacement for Mr. Ewenla will be announced in due course.”
The governor urged all political appointees to conduct themselves in accordance with the law and the regulations governing their duties, the statement concluded.
