The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibadan Zonal Office, quizzed the Oyo kingmakers on Wednesday for taking bribes.
Recalling that the stool of the Alaafin of Oyo became vacant after the passing of Oba Lamidi Adeyemi in April last year, it has been over a year and a new Alaafin has not been named, and the selection process has been embroiled in a crisis.
However, it was gathered on Wednesday that the EFCC summoned the Oyo kingmakers following a petition by one of the candidates aspiring to the vacant throne of Alaafin of Oyo.
A credible source in the anti-graft agency identified the kingmakers invited as the Basorun of Oyo town, High Chief Yusuf Ayoola; Agbaakin of Oyo town, High Chief Asimiyu Atanda; Samu of Oyo town, High Chief Lamidi Oyewale; Lagunna of Oyo town, High Wakilu Oyedepo; and Akinniku of Oyo town.
It was gathered that the petitioner alleged that the kingmakers collected bribes running into millions of naira to favor a particular candidate, hence the decision of the EFCC to summon the kingmakers for questioning.
However, further investigations revealed that only Oloye Agbaakin and Oloye Samu honored the EFCC invitation, while Basorun, Lagunna, and Akinniku were said to be absent. Those present were accompanied by their lawyers and were asked to write a statement in defense of the allegations stated in the petition before they were released. As of press time, details of their defense were not known. When contacted on the phone, High Chief Oyewale confirmed the invitation by the EFCC office but declined further comments. He only said, "Yes, we were invited. We have gone and come back."
Efforts to reach Basorun, Lagunna, and Akinniku through their mobile numbers proved abortive as they were not reachable.
Also, efforts to reach the Ibadan Zonal Public Relations Officer of the EFCC were not successful. The kingmakers have been factionalized in the choice of the next Alaafin.
•Credit: The Punch Newspaper