EFCC grills Oyo kingmakers over alleged bribe for Alaafin stool

EFCC operatives

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has begun interrogating kingmakers in Oyo, otherwise known as Oyomesi, over alleged bribe.

It was gathered that the seven kingmakers were invited by the anti-graft agency following a petition alleging that they were bribed by certain candidates aspiring to the stool of Alaafin of Oyo.

The last Alaafin Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III died in April 2022 after a 52-year reign.

According to the government gazette, the Agunloye Ruling House is next to produce the Alaafin.

A total of 89 candidates were reportedly interviewed in the search for a successor.

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Recently, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde declared that Alaafin’s stool was not for sale, warning that anyone found to be involved in bribery to influence the choice of the next Alaafin would be handed over to the EFCC.

The Nation, however, learnt that two kingmakers out of seven honoured the EFCC’s invitation on Tuesday.

The individuals (names withheld) were released hours after being grilled by investigators.

“Yes, they invited them. They went there with their lawyer and they are back in Oyo now,” a source close to one of the kingmakers was quoted as saying.