Chairman of Epe Local Government, Princess Surah Olayemi Animashahun has denied allegations of financial mismanagement, plagiarism, certificate forgery and unauthorised sale of government properties leveled against her administration by a group, Epe Young Professionals.

Refuting this claim, Animashahun, who is the first female Chairman of the local government, in a statement, claimed that the allegations are baseless, adding that they are politically-motivated and orchestrated to distract governance in Epe.

Addressing plagiarism claims, Animashahun clarified that a quotation she had used in a report, and being attributed to former Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola is a widely recognized statement that can be used by anyone.

“The claim of plagiarism is therefore baseless and untrue,” she asserted.

On the issue of certificate forgery, she clarified, “My credentials were thoroughly vetted before assuming office. If there had been any discrepancies, I would not have been cleared to contest in the first place. I encourage the public to verify my credentials through the appropriate screening bodies”.

Regarding allegations of financial misconduct, the local government chairman maintained that her administration had consistently provided transparent stewardship reports. “Financial monitoring agencies responsible for overseeing public allocations have never raised any concerns about this. If there were any mismanagement, the appropriate authorities would have taken action against me,” she said.

She also dismissed claims that her administration engaged in the illegal sale of government properties, adding that items in question, including telecommunications masts and generators, had deteriorated and posed risks.

“After obtaining the necessary approvals from the relevant ministry, they were safely removed to prevent further hazards. The ‘aboki’ claimed to have been involved in their sales was merely assisting in clearing debris from the council premises. No financial transactions or negotiations took place,” she affirmed.

Animashahun further stressed that all allegations were political moves to discredit her administration and reduce her chances of securing a second term.

“Leadership is ordained by God, not by human schemes. Attempts to tarnish my reputation for political gain will not succeed. As the first female Chairman in the history of Epe Division, I have worked tirelessly for the progress of our community, and like Oliver Twist, I am committed to doing even more,” she stated.