President Tinubu’s Appointee, Olatunde Adepoju, Faces EFCC Probe Over Multi-Million Naira Fraud

EFCC Interrogates President Tinubu’s Appointee Over Corruption Allegations.

Professor Shola Olatunde Adepoju, Chairman of the Governing Council of the Federal College of Education, Ilawe Ekiti, and former Director-General of the Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN), was questioned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday regarding corruption allegations during his tenure at FRIN.

Adepoju, who served as FRIN’s Director-General from March 31, 2015, to March 31, 2023, was accused of diverting government properties, including exotic vehicles meant for the institute’s operations, in collusion with the institute’s human resources director, Olufemi Michael Hastrup.

The EFCC invited Adepoju in August to answer questions regarding the allegations, and he finally honored the invitation on Tuesday, September 24, 2024, at the Ibadan Zonal office.

EFCC spokesman Dele Oyewale confirmed that Adepoju was interrogated and stated that the commission has commenced a full investigation into the allegations.

Adepoju denied any wrongdoing, claiming he was away when the invitation was sent in August and that he later honored the invitation. He also confirmed that the issue of exotic cars was part of the EFCC interrogation but declined to comment further, citing the ongoing investigation.

This development comes after Adepoju’s appointment by President Bola Tinubu in June 2024 as Chairman of the Governing Council of the Federal College of Education, Ilawe Ekiti.

Previous allegations against Adepoju include awarding fraudulent contracts, withholding staff deductions, and flouting civil service rules in relation to staff promotions.

The EFCC’s investigation is ongoing, and Adepoju may be called in again for further questioning.