Senator Ajibola Bashiru, the representative for Osun Central Senatorial District, has disclosed that funds were stolen from his bedroom by his political aides in December 2019. This revelation comes after he denied allegations of apprehending five of his aides for embezzling sums “ranging from N30 billion to N30 million and or 100,000 dollars”.
In a Facebook post, Bashiru addressed the allegations, stating, “Many well-wishers have brought to my attention a campaign of calumny in the social media by some disgruntled elements that I caused five of my aides to be arrested over an alleged stolen amount ranging from N30 billion to N30 million and or 100,000 dollars, depending on their levels of fantasy.”
In an interview with The Nation, the lawmaker confirmed that two of his aides were detained due to the disappearance of his sole maid. He also acknowledged that some of his aides pilfered money from his bedroom in December, without specifying the amount. Bashiru further elaborated that the theft occurred while he was on vacation with his wife and emphasized that there were no signs of forced entry into his bedroom.
He explained, “Only a few of my aides have access to the keys to my room. This should show to any discerning mind the level of trust and confidence I had in those aides. The only maid in my house escaped from the house. She sneaked out of the house after throwing her belongings over the fence, probably with the connivance of other aides. She even left her two phones behind. For me, beyond the issue of money being stolen, the incident raised issues of a serious security breach in my home and a potential threat to my life and that of my family, as the perpetrators may even plant injurious items in my room or house or even have a more sinister motive.”