A popular youth advocate in Ondo, Oluyemi Fasipe, has called on the anti-graft agency, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to beam its searchlight on the alleged forgery of ailing Governor Rotimi Akeredolu’s signature. 

Mr Fasipe’s demand came after a cabinet member in Mr Akeredolu’s government, Rasaq Obe, revealed how the governor’s signatures were forged on official files and documents in his absence. 

Mr Obe, the Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, made the revelation in a letter to Lucky Aiyedatiwa, now acting governor, of how irregularities were detected in a document returned to his ministry through the office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG).

Moved by the discovery, Mr Fasipe said the allegation raised by the cabinet member was alarming and put the integrity of Mr Akeredolu’s government in doubt. 

In a letter to the EFCC on Thursday, the youth advocate said conducting a thorough investigation into the allegation would also ascertain the veracity of the claims and unravel the identities of those involved in the forgery.

“I strongly request that the EFCC conduct a thorough investigation into this case of forgery. It is essential to ascertain the veracity of the claims and establish the identities of those involved in the illegal act. Any government official found to be responsible for forging the signature of the ailing Ondo State governor must face the full force of the law.

“Forgery not only violates the law but also erodes public trust in our democratic institutions. As custodians of financial security and guardians of justice, I implore the EFCC to take this matter with utmost seriousness and diligence. It is only through prompt and effective action that we can restore the faith of the people in our government and prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future,” he said. 

While expressing confidence that the anti-graft agency will swiftly address the allegation and ensure justice is served, Mr Fasipe saluted the EFCC’s commitment to curbing corruption.

An Ondo-born human rights lawyer, Allen Sowore, had described the alleged forgery of ailing Akeredolu’s signatures on some government documents as a criminal act.

He said the forgery allegations should be of concern to all stakeholders in the state, as it also constitutes a crime punishable under the law.