Stop Character Assassination: Mr. Olonade Eyitayo (OYRTMA Officer) Was Accused Of Sexual Harassment By Mrs Akande’s Husband Not Mogaji Akin Fagbemi- OYRTMA Responds

Attention of the Oyo State Road Transport Management Authority (OYRTMA) has been drawn to a misleading publication making the rounds on social media emanating from one faceless blog, Premiumdailys.com. The blog, in an unsubstantiated article titled “OYRTMA Ad-hoc Staff Alleged Boss, Fagbemi of Sexual Harassment, Physical Torture Leads to Lost of Pregnancy” had alleged the presumed involvement of our Executive Chairman, Mogaji Akin Fagbemi Ph.D in the loss of a pregnancy of one Mrs. Akande Victoria who according to the blog was an OYRTMA ad-hoc staff.

Ordinarily, it is not in the nature of this Authority to issue a rejoinder on issues emanating from faceless political oppositions through gutter journalism devoid of reasonable contents and apparently targeted at tarnishing the image of the Oyo State Government led by His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde and particularly the fast-rising public image of the Executive Chairman of OYRTMA, Mogaji Akin Fagbemi especially at this crucial period of politics and elections.

However, in the best interest of the general public, it is important we issue this rejoinder to put the records straight and avoid continuous spread of misinformation.

The Authority received a letter dated 23rd December 2022 from one Mr. Ogunlade Oladele Akande, husband to Mrs. Akande Victoria titled “Complain on Olonade Eyitayo, Who Absconded with Akande Victoria, My Wife” (see attached). This letter was fortified with pictorial evidences of alleged illicit sexual affairs between Mrs. Akande Victoria and Mr. Olonade Eyitayo (see attached) who is an Officer of the Authority. Mr. Ogunlade (Akande) had through the letter disclosed that his wife, Mrs. Akande Victoria had left home since August, 2022 claiming to have travelled to Ife town only to be told by different people that she was at different times sighted with Officer Olonade Eyitayo in Oyo town.

Upon receipt of these grievous allegations against the person of Officer Olonade Eyitayo, the Executive Chairman of the OYRTMA, Mogaji Akin Fagbemi had constituted a five-man panel of enquiry led by the General Manager of the Authority, Mr. Adeoye Kola Ayoade to unravel the nitty-gritty of the matter. The panel of enquiry swung into action and visited the operational base of Officer Olonade Eyitayo in Oyo town to meet with all concerned. It was at this point that the panel met one Mrs. Akande Victoria claiming to be a secretary to Officer Olonade Eyitayo.

Investigations during the visit revealed some unexplainable financial dealings linked to Mrs. Akande Victoria and as at the time of writing this rejoinder, the investigations are still ongoing internally to ascertain the true picture of events. Contrary to claims of assault and physical harassment in the article, it is imperative to state that at no point during the investigation process was Mrs. Akande Victoria or any other person for that matter physically assaulted or brutalized. This could be affirmed to by eyewitnesses including OYRTMA Officials present and family relatives of both Officer Olonade and Mrs. Victoria who were present at the scene.

In its official response to Mr. Ogunlade’s letter of complaint, the Authority had through a letter dated 4th January, 2023 explained the immediate actions the Authority had taken to get the facts of the matter and restore normalcy in accordance to the rules of engagement of the Authority (see attached).

While expressing his personal appreciation to the Executive Chairman of the Authority, Mogaji Akin Fagbemi for his quick intervention on the matter, Mr. Ogunlade, husbad to Mrs. Victoria Akande had through a text message sent to the Authority disclosed that only the wife could explain anything about the alleged pregnancy as she was not diagnosed pregnant before absconding from home in August, 2022. He also said that the Authority would receive official communication from his personal lawyer on or before next week to appreciate the Executive Chairman for his roles in resolving the impasse with his estranged wife.

Since investigations into the entire matter is yet to be concluded hitherto, it is highly preemptive of anyone especially some paid bloggers to go about misinforming the public on official civil service issues that are still undergoing administrative investigations and procedures in line with civil service rules and regulations.

To this end, publishers of premiumdailys.com and their cohorts are strongly advised to within three (3) working days tender unreserved public apology published in at least three prominent National Dailies including The Nigerian Tribune and two others, to the person of the Executive Chairman of OYRTMA, Mogaji Akin Fagbemi Ph.D for publicizing fake news and distorted information in an attempt to smear his hard-earned name and that of the Authority. Failure to comply with this advice might lead to serious litigations.

Again, the Authority appreciates the good people of Oyo State for standing by her towards ensuring safety on the roads at all times even in the face of serious provocations and oppositions by serial road traffic offenders and those hell-bent on transgressing the Oyo State Road Traffic Management Authority Law, 2009.