An Ibadan-based controversial radio presenter, Oriyomi Hamzat has escaped to France to evade arrest by the Economic Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) over his involvement in the N998 exercise book scam awarded to him by the Oyo State government.
A socio-economic group in Oyo state, Grassroots For Itesiwaju Ipinle Oyo which raised the alarm in a statement issued by its Convener, Dr. Bello Razaq urged Oriyomi to seek forgiveness over his outbursts against opposition in Oyo state.
Our correspondent recalled that review of the Oyo State Open Contracting portal done by Dataphyte has shown that secondary school notebook contracts worth N998 million and awarded between August 2019 and December 2020 have been subject to contract inflation, fraudulent contract bidding and contract ambiguity.
The contract, awarded in three batches, is to supply customised notebooks to secondary schools in the state. The first set of 12 contracts totalling N456.504 million was awarded on August 28, 2019.
The second set was awarded in June 2020, with a total value of N94.196 million and described as “production of second batch exercise books for students of public secondary schools in the state”.
The third set awarded in December 2020 at N446.370 million was for the supply of 212,505 copies of 60 leaves’ notebooks. The description stated that the notebooks are meant for the 2020/2021 session of public secondary schools in the state.
But the statement further said it was true for someone to get insane, if he sees money that beyond his mental capacity, saying the recent video of Oriyomi campaigning for his paymaster and calling other candidates names reflected his poor understanding of ethics of a nobel profession of journalism.
The group said that it has information that men of EFCC had in last week Monday visited his office with the aims of picking him up but he has travelled before their arrival based on the advise of the state governor.
According to the group, the days of Oriyomi in flouting ethics of journalism are numbered as he continues to display his foolishness in market square.
Citing instances of his unprofessionalism, the group said somebody who entered a radio studio to switch off microphone during a life programme because the guest was exposing rots in the present administration in the state, passing judgement on a case that has not been decided by a competent court has exposed Oriyomi as misfit masquerading himself as a journalist.
The group therefore urged EFCC and other relevant security agencies not to relent in hunting those who were involved the case and ensure that they are brought to book in a due course.
