In a startling revelation on Friday, Ondo State Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Engr. Razaq Obe, accused an alleged forgery of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu’s signature on official documents related to the Ministry.
In a letter addressed to the state Deputy Governor, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, a copy of which was obtained by LEADERSHIP, Obe highlighted that discrepancies in the governor’s signature were initially noticed when a file from his ministry was returned via the office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Princess Oladuni Odu. Notably, this particular file was the lone one returned among the five files submitted for the Governor’s approval approximately two months ago.
Upon closer examination, Obe discovered substantial disparities between the suspicious signature and handwriting on the document and Governor Akeredolu’s known signatures and handwriting. Expressing his concern about the gravity of the situation, the commissioner opted to seek a forensic review before bringing his discovery to light.
In the letter, Obe wrote, “I write to bring to your attention a critical matter that requires immediate action. It has been confirmed that the signature of Mr. Governor on a certain document has been forged. I sent the suspicious signature, handwriting samples, and copies of the old regular signatures to forensic experts, who have now confirmed that the suspicious signature and handwriting were indeed forged.”
Acknowledging the potential widespread implications of such forgery, Obe emphasized the urgency of addressing the matter to maintain the integrity of governmental processes in Ondo State. Alongside the letter, he attached a copy of the forensic report and relevant pages from the file to substantiate his claims.
“I urge you to treat this matter with the urgency it deserves and take appropriate actions to address the situation. We must restore the integrity of our processes and ensure that such a disturbing development is swiftly punctuated,” Obe concluded in his plea for immediate attention to the alleged forgery. The revelation has stirred significant concern within the state’s political circles, prompting calls for a thorough investigation into the matter.