Special Assistant to Ondo State Governor, Adeboye Taofiq Ewenla, who was sacked by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa for allegedly demanding a N30 million bribe, has denied his involvement.
According to Ewenla, who admitted to demanding the money, the fund was not meant for him but to be paid into the coffers of the state government.
The Special Assistant was on Wednesday dismissed from his position by Aiyedatiwa following a leaked phone conversation when he demanded that some timber traders in the state should pay the sum of N30 million before they will be allowed to operate in the forest reserves.
Ewenla, who described the allegation as false, stated that there had been moves to tarnish his image due to his efforts at curbing illegal activities within the forest reserves.
He said, “I would like to categorically state that the allegation is false and the whole issue was orchestrated to tarnish my image because I was considered a major stumbling block to illegal activities in government forest reserves.
“Ondo state government had already banned deforestation of any kind and prevented them from operating there.
“Before they can operate, they have to pay a certain amount to government coffers. The money being talked about is meant for the government. It is not to be paid into my personal account.
“All I was committed to was trying to put sanity into the job. All my activities are directed to increasing the internally generated revenue of the state government.
“I accept the decision of Mr. Governor, who appointed me and deemed it fit to relieve me. It is however important to make this clarification for official reasons.”
