The crisis rocking the Ondo State House of Assembly took a dramatic turn on Tuesday after a lawmaker alleged that she narrowly escaped death over her probe into alleged financial impropriety involving the leadership of the House and the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC).
The member representing Ilaje Constituency II, Hon. Olawumi Fayemi-Obayelu, claimed in a phone interview that she had been threatened and intimidated over what she described as her investigation into alleged bribery and corruption involving the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Olamide Oladiji, and OSOPADEC.
Fayemi-Obayelu alleged that some individuals wanted her silenced and insisted she would not be intimidated, while also accusing the Speaker of diverting funds meant for her constituency.
The development comes amid growing tension within the Assembly over allegations surrounding about N44 million reportedly released by OSOPADEC to the legislature, with some lawmakers allegedly expressing dissatisfaction over the handling of the funds.
The lawmaker further claimed that a majority of members of the House had lost confidence in the Speaker and urged him to resign.
However, Oladiji dismissed claims that lawmakers were seeking his removal, insisting that he was unaware of any impeachment plot against him.
“I’m not aware of that,” the Speaker said when asked about reports that 21 lawmakers had demanded his resignation.
He also denied allegations linking him to an assassination plot against the Ilaje lawmaker, describing the claims as baseless and challenging his accuser to provide evidence.
“I’m a law-abiding citizen… I’m a Christian, I don’t believe in all that. Let her come up with evidence to confirm such allegations,” Oladiji stated.
The Speaker had earlier rejected reports of a leadership crisis in the Assembly, describing allegations that he contemplated resigning over the OSOPADEC fund controversy as false, malicious and politically motivated.
He maintained that there was no crisis within the 10th Ondo State House of Assembly and insisted that claims of mismanagement of funds or attempts to sideline lawmakers were fabricated to create unnecessary tension within the legislature.
Despite the Speaker’s denial, the allegations have further intensified the political storm within the Assembly, with attention now focused on how the leadership will address the growing concerns and accusations among members.