JUST IN: Ondo commissioner refutes double salary allegation

By Boye Oyeyemi

The Ondo State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Igbekele Ajibefun, has denied allegations that he received salaries from multiple government agencies in violation of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers.

Ajibefun, who appeared before the Code of Conduct Bureau in Ondo State, insisted that he only collected statutory sitting allowances as a member of some governing councils of certain state-owned tertiary institutions.

The institutions include Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko; University of Medical Sciences, Ondo; Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo; and Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa.

The CCB had earlier summoned the commissioner over a petition titled “Receiving Salary/Allowances in More Than One Government Establishment at the Same Time,” alleging that he breached provisions of the Fifth Schedule of the 1999 Constitution which bar public officers from drawing emoluments from more than one public office simultaneously.

In a letter signed by Mrs. Akingbernila R.O., the bureau directed Ajibefun to appear before its panel of enquiry and present relevant documents, including evidence of leave of absence from his previous employment, warning that failure to comply could lead to the matter being referred to the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

Speaking with journalists after the session, Ajibefun described the allegation as false, maintaining that he does not earn salaries from any of the institutions.

“I do not collect salary from UNIMED. I am not a staff member of the university. I only attend council meetings. Yes, council members receive sitting allowances,” he said.

The commissioner explained that council meetings are held about three times annually, aside from emergency sittings, adding that the allowances are lawful. However, he declined to disclose the total amount he had received, saying the records could be obtained from the respective institutions.