OTUNLA RETIRED VOLUNTARILY - FG

The Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) has faulted media reports that the immediate past AGF, Mr. Jonah Otunla, was fired for allegedly misappropriating N2.5 billion security fund.

The AGF’s office said yesterday that Otunla retired voluntarily as required by civil service rules having clocked 60 years. The office said the story, which was first reported by The Will, an online news portal, and also THISDAY existed only in the realm of fiction.
“Mr. Jonah Otunla the former Accountant-General of the Federation retired honourably at the mandatory age of sixty years, following his 60th birthday on 12th June, 2015 and as required by the Civil service provisions,” a statement by Mrs. K. N. Offie, deputy director (press) said.
“Due to the vital operations of Government, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation Mr. Danladi Kifasi, informed the office that His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari had approved the appointment of Mr. M.K Dikwa, the Director Funds, to Act as the Accountant-General until a substantive Accountant-General is appointed,” the statement explained.
It added that “there was no time the office was under investigation and the office equally never informed the media of any removal from office of its headship, except on account of retirement upon the attainment of the mandatory age of sixty years by the former Accountant-General of the Federation, Mr. Jonah Otunla on 12th June, 2015.”
In a related development, kinsmen, associates and friends of Otunla yesterday kicked over his reported sack by President Buhari over alleged N2.5billion security fund.
A friend of Otunla and former Secretary to Oyo State Government, Chief Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli told THISDAY that the former AGF had since proceeded on terminal leave.
Alli, a lawyer and also the immediate past Chairman of Odu’a Investment Company Limited said, “I don’t believe this story of his sack yesterday (Friday) by President Buhari. All I know was that he had since put in a letter of retirement and was on terminal leave before former President Goodluck Jonathan left office. He was 60 years old yesterday (Friday) and officially retired from the service of the federal government.”
Also, Otunla’s kinsmen under the banner of ‘Oke Ogun 2019’ described the report of Otunla’s sack as untrue, ill-conceived and intended to cast aspersions on a man who had put in his best to serve his fatherland.