The sacked Permanent Secretary, Bureau of Computer Services and? Information Technology in Osun State, Engineer? Abiodun Oladapo has denied the allegations against him that he misappropriated a sum of? N2.5billion meant for the provision of Internet facilities for the proposed Free Trade Zone project embarked upon by the immediate past? administration of Olagunsoye Oyinlola.
LEADERSHIP SUNDAY investigation into the matter revealed that? the? connectivity of the yet to be completed? Free Trade Zone with internet backbone as directed? by former Governor Oyinlola was actually carried out with a? sum of N13,700,000.00 while a sum of N15,962,000.00 was? requested for the project by the bureau.
Oladapo speaking on the issue appealed? to Governor Rauf Aregbesola that the balance is yet to be paid to the creditor for the release of? some items for the restoration of the network to a reliable and stable? performance level.
He noted that under the project, all the 30 local government? councils, including the Modakeke Area Office are cyber connected, adding? that the probe panel set up by the state government to look into the activities of the Bureau under him did not invite him to hear his own side of the story.
“We swung into action immediately former? Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola approved that the Free Trade Zone be connected to the Internet backbone as a matter of urgency. The Bureau? therefore came up with the cost implication of the assignment. However, the amount recommended for approval by the Bureau of Public? Procurement fell short of the total cost we requested”.
While explaining that the Free Trade Zone had since 2009 been? enjoying uninterrupted internet services, Oladapo stressed? that the work could not be completed because the Free Trade Zone (FTZ) lacked the office space to accommodate the installations.
“We installed some of the items at the Governor’s office such as VSAT, wireless kits, power alternative to support the programme and internet? bandwidth,” he said.
Highlighting items such as Client Premise’s Equipment (CPE), including the mast and radio as those already installed within the premises of the Free Trade Zone, Oladapo said items yet to be installed and being retained by the creditors, include, 5GHz Airspan base station, 5GHzCPE, 19DBI 120deg? secretarial antenna, 15DBI Omni-Directional antenna, 5GHZ WIFI Radio, Cisco ASA Router, Soft Bandwidth manager, generating set and? installation charges.