Former Chairman of Ibadan North Local Government, Hon. Yinka Akinbode, has defended Senator Sarafadeen Abiodun Alli against allegations of misappropriating funds meant for the purchase of hectares of land at Erumu in Egbeda Local Government Area of Oyo State, alleging that the property was later subdivided and sold under the administration of Governor Seyi Makinde.

Akinbode, who served as council chairman during the second term of the late former Governor Abiola Ajimobi, described the allegation against Alli as “entirely untrue” and an attempt at deliberate character assassination.

The former chairman was reacting to allegations reportedly made by the Allied People’s Movement (APM) governorship candidate, Bimbo Adekanbi, concerning the controversial land transaction.

In a statement personally signed by him on Sunday and made available to journalists in Ibadan, Akinbode said he was familiar with the history of the property, having personally handled the file during his tenure.

According to him, he reviewed the relevant documents and led a delegation of key local government officials, including the Head of Local Government Administration, Director of Finance, Director of Agriculture and the Auditor, on an official inspection of the land.

He explained that the visit was part of efforts to establish the status of the property and prepare it for agricultural initiatives targeted at youths interested in farming.

Akinbode further disclosed that he directed the council engineer to clear the land with a bulldozer in preparation for the proposed agricultural project, adding that the official records relating to the property remained available for verification.

The former council chairman, however, alleged that the land was subdivided into plots and sold approximately two to three years ago by a local government chairman serving under the current administration of Governor Makinde.

He said he contacted several former council chairmen, including Senator Alli, Hon. Ademola Omotosho of the APM and Alhaji Omilabu Gandi, after learning that the property had been sold.

According to Akinbode, the former chairmen were unable to intervene in the matter because the administration in power at the time controlled the relevant authorities.

He consequently urged Adekanbi to refrain from making allegations he considered misleading against Senator Alli, insisting that the circumstances surrounding the property should be established through available records and verifiable facts.

“Facts are sacred,” Akinbode stated, reiterating his position that the allegation against the senator did not accurately reflect the history of the Erumu property.

The controversy has brought renewed attention to the ownership, management and eventual disposal of the land, with Akinbode’s account introducing a different perspective on the events surrounding the property.

However, his allegation that the land was sold under the Makinde administration, as well as the circumstances of the transaction, remains subject to independent verification. The response of the chairman alleged to have overseen the sale was not included in the statement provided.