These are apparently not the best of times for the Rotimi Akeredolu government in Ondo State. Few days after the N4.3bn secret cash scandal rocked the state to its foundation, the Crest can confirm that a total of 88 ‘ghosts workers’ received the sum of N48,210,000 as car loan from the State government in 2018 according to the 2019 audit report submitted to the Ondo State House of Assembly.
In the report, some beneficiaries got double car loan while 86 workers in both the civil and teaching service collected loans above what they were qualified for.
It was through the audit report that the lawmakers learnt that the sum of N4.3bn was stashed in a Zenith Bank account for over 10 years.
Part of the audit report stated that the sum of N9, 750,000 was fraudulently disbursed to16 non-public officers between October and December 2018.
The report said further investigation showed that a total sum of N38, 460,000 was given to 66 persons whose names could not be found in the State Salary payment register and who were consequently deemed to be non-government employees.
It said findings showed that Director, Treasury Service, Mr. Akinsanmi T. R and Mr. Jegede E.D Head Car Loan Unit were responsible for the signing of the bank confirmation schedules for cheques issued in respect of the disbursement.
The report said most of the disbursements were done without regard to due process.
Last month, 25 civils servants were arrested and suspended for various offences including stealing millions of naira, employment racketeering and including fictitious names in the pay roll of the state government.
One of them smuggled the name of his wife into the payroll and placed her on level 14.
