Adeboye Ewenla, a former aide to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State, has refuted the bribery accusations that led to his dismissal, calling it a smear campaign against his character.
Ewenla, who previously served as the Special Assistant on Forestry for the Central Senatorial District, was sacked after being accused by timber traders of engaging in corrupt practices. Governor Aiyedatiwa’s Chief Press Secretary, Ebenezer Adeniyan, confirmed the immediate termination in a statement on Wednesday.
In response, Ewenla firmly denied the allegations, stating they were part of a scheme to discredit him for blocking illegal activities in the state's forest reserves.
"This accusation is baseless and was clearly orchestrated to damage my reputation. I have been seen as an obstacle by those trying to carry out unauthorized activities in our government forest reserves," Ewenla said.
He further explained that the Ondo State Government has implemented strict measures against deforestation and illegal operations within the reserves. He clarified that fees collected for forest operations are deposited into the government’s accounts, not for personal gain.
