The Ekiti State Chapter of the Security Network popularly known as Amotekun is involved in a cow business scandal that could tear the security outfit apart if urgent action is not taken to avert the ugly trend by the State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi.
At the centre of the scandal are the Commandant of the Corps, Rtd. Brig. Gen. Komolafe Joe who allegedly sacked the Commanding Officer of Gboyin Local Government, Chief Ogunyemi Johnson Akin over his inability to meet up with the number of cows expected to be remitted.
The sacked Commandanding Chief Ogunyemi Johnson Akin in a petition written to the State Governor, Dr. John Kayode Fayemi in which a copy was made available to journalists in Ado-Ekiti said the State Commandant of the Amotekun corps, Brigadier Komolafe joe relieved him of his position because he could no longer meet up with a certain number of cows which are usually being allegedly deposited to his office for his personal business purposes.
Chief Ogunyemi in the petition dated, October 25, 2021 and copied to the Ekiti State House of Assembly, narrated his ordeal in the now excalated cow scandal, pointing out that his travails with the State commandant started when the Corp outfit was inaugurated in Ekiti state and he was made the Branch Commander for Gboyin local government.
“There were sixteen Local Government when we were inaugurated and 14 operational vehicles were disbursed leaving out Gboyin and one other Local Government.
“When i asked for our own operational vehicle, the Commandant flared up but later brought a very badly damaged vehicle which I used my personal money to the tune of 75,000 naira to fix ,even at that the vehicle is still not working properly. I later found out the vehicle was taken from a Commissioner who had, had a serious accident with it.
There was a day I was called by the Principal of Gbonyin Community High school to come rescue some accident victims in the area, I had to look for a Commercial Vehicle to convey the accident victims to the hospital.
“Later I informed the Commandant, Brigadier Komolafe of the situation of the vehicle and he said they will send a towing vehicle if I will pay for fuelling after I had already paid the Commercial vehicles conveying the victims to the hospital notwhithstanding, I still paid”
The erstwhile Amotekun Commander further narrated that he went on logger heads with the State Commandant when he could no longer meet up with the number of targeted cows as instructed by the commandant.
” How am i supposed to come up with 10 cows every now and then just to curry his favour and remain in his good books?”
Chief Ogunyemi alleged that all the Local Governments Branch Commandants are under obligation to bring cows some 3, some 5 , even 10 at times in a day while the arrested cows are allegedly traded and the money goes into the coffers of the State Commandant.
He maintained that he was not aware that the focus and duties of the Security Network has shifted from tracking and arresting criminal herders, Bandits and kidnappers to Cow Business where picked cows are sold and the money pocketed by Brigadier Komolafe.
” Most cows brought are not arrested in farms but since it is an order that cows must come in daily and there is a target for all the Branch Commandants to meet in a week. When i was confronted with the fact that I had stop bringing a certain number of cows , I was surprised.
“I told him I can only arrest cows found destroying peoples farms and not just picking cows randomly. At another time when I was accused of not bringing cows at all, I made it clear I can’t start cattle rustling all because I am an Amotekun Commandant, our job transcends cow business which the State Commandant has turned the security outfit to”.
Chief Ogundipe said Brigadier Komolafe promised to deal with him severely for refusing what he termed a direct order of bringing in cows at all cost. He explained the Commandant has since then been looking for ways to remove him from his position but he was shocked and surprised when he was told he has been sacked and replaced by a particular man who could neither read nor write.
” I understand the man who has been appointed to take my place tendered another persons Testimonials and credentials as his own which I considered as a dubious move by the State Commandant”.
Chief Ogunyemi said his refusal to become an agent of stealing instead of curbing atrocities earned him a bad name with the Commandant and his subsequent sack.
He alledged further that Brigadier Komolafe boasted that no Board could remove him as he reports to nobody and whatever he does is unquestionable.
” He always say nobody could change his decisions as he has no business in Ekiti, he had no properties, no houses and all his family are in Ondo state that even the Governor, Dr.KayodeFayemi won’t check mate his excesses, i dont know why I should be victimised for refusing to bring cows for sale.” Ogunyemi queried.
Protesting that he was unjustly removed, Chief Ogunyemi queried the rationale behind his sack as he alleged due process was not followed . ” I was not queried, no committee was set up, no questioning of any kind, I was never invited nor indicted over any offence to have warranted what I see as injustice on the part of the Brigadier.
“I therefore declare with all due respect Your Excellency Sir, and I Insist that my sack by our state Commandant was unjust, unjustifiable, abnormal, unlawful, unwarranted, and unacceptable.
“In view of this my wrongful dismissal your Excellency, I therefore call your attention to so many shady and maladministration going on in the security outfit of Amotekun which is capable of denting and ridiculing not only the image of the outfit but also the good name of Mr Governor and his works not leaving out the State as a whole owing to bad leadership of Brigadier komolafe .
“I therefore, with due respect your Excellency, I humbly request your Excellency’s intervention to urgently review my case and even overhaul the security outfit as well as re-organize the agency in Ekiti for effective operations that would portray the good name of Ekiti, the vision, and mission for its establishment.
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