World enews: BUSTED: Nigeria’s Forestry Research Institute Boss, Olusola Accused Of Corruption Intimidates Workers With Queries, Transfers To Cover Up

The Director-General of the Forestry Research Institute Of Nigeria (FRIN), Ibadan, Oyo State, Prof Adepoju Olusola, begun witch-hunting and victimising some workers following a story by SaharaReporters exposing how he awarded fraudulent contracts without recourse to procedure and due process.

SaharaReporters had exposed how Olusola turned the agency into a personal estate.

A source had told SaharaReporters that FRIN board members were denied access to all financial and administrative activities of the agency, including records of budgets, expenditures, contracts, appointments, promotions undertaken under the Director-General.

Weeks after the story, it was learnt that Olusola ordered the transfer of those he described as ‘enemies’ from the headquarters of the agency in Ibadan to some Northern and South-Eastern states.

Some workers were also issued query by the Director-General.

“He has been using the management to hunt perceived enemies. The aftermath of that publication by SaharaReporters is victimisation of staff with transfer threat.

“Sadly, the board and management haven’t brought verifiable report of an objective investigation on the alleged issues.

“Also, most of us transferred to other states have not been furnished with any allowances to aid our redeployment. When one of us called their attention to this, they issued him a query.

“The labour union has been divided and bought over on this. The DG has turned himself to God in the institute. Always intimidating and threatening staff with his connection and influence in Abuja.

“Section 130105 of the public service rule maintains that transportation and resettlement allowance be made available before transfer or posting,” a source told SaharaReporters on Tuesday.

SaharaReporters had been briefed in the first by a source which further accused Olusola of illegally promoting staff members without regard for public service rules.

“The Director-General, Professor Adepoju Olusola has been found doing the following; withholding of staff deductions (Contributions of over N50,000,000) to co-operative society for the month of October 2020, as confirmed by IPPIS.

“Illegal removal or deduction from salaries of staff (This is done randomly) with no reason, explanation and move to refund (He does not listen to anyone) for same October, 2020.

“Flouting of civil service rule in relation to promotion of staff. In the year 2020, promotion exercise was conducted, over 30%-40% of staff denied promotion even though they passed the examination, but he claimed there was no vacancy.

“By January 2021, this year, those who got promoted received their letters and were promoted appropriately. To our amazement, by June 2021, part of those promoted and served their letters, were given another promotion. We found out that they are his partners in crime in the institute.

“Imagine, someone got promoted to Grade Level 11 in January 2021 and received another promotion in June 2021 to Grade Level 13, in the space of five months.

“All efforts to have him explain this move proved abortive as he will never give room for questioning. He’s above the law and people are afraid to challenge him,” the source had said.