The Osun State Election Violence Victims Relief Committee has begun the verification of more than 300 claims filed by residents who alleged that they suffered various forms of loss during violence associated with the August 15 governorship election.
The exercise, which commenced on Thursday at the State House of Assembly, is aimed at identifying genuine victims eligible to benefit from the N500 million relief fund established by the state government.
The 10-member committee, chaired by the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. Adewale Egbedun, was constituted by Governor Ademola Adeleke following his victory in the election to examine claims arising from election-related violence and supervise the disbursement of relief to qualified victims.
At the verification session, claimants were invited to present their accounts before the committee, alongside documents and other evidence capable of establishing the circumstances and extent of their alleged losses.
Egbedun said the committee would ensure that the exercise was conducted with fairness and transparency, stressing that the government’s intervention must ultimately reach people who genuinely suffered as a result of the violence.
He urged applicants to provide truthful information and relevant supporting documents, assuring them that each claim would be considered on its merits.
‘On behalf of the committee, I assure all genuine victims that their cases will receive the attention they deserve.
‘We will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that the relief process is credible, just and meaningful,’ he said.
One of the cases presented before the committee was that of Ajayi Tolulope, whose husband, Ajayi Rogba, was allegedly killed in Esa-Oke, Obokun Local Government Area, ahead of the election.
In an emotional testimony, Tolulope alleged that her husband was attacked by armed men who arrived in a Sienna vehicle.
‘We saw a Sienna with two occupants, each holding two guns. They fired four shots,’ she told the committee.
She said her husband was wearing an Accord Party cap when he was killed, adding that his death had created serious hardship for the family.
According to her, Rogba, a practising herbalist, was survived by his parents, while five children were being catered for by the family, including two of her children, one child of his second wife and two of his younger siblings.
Tolulope further alleged that her husband had been repeatedly trailed after he declined an invitation to join the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The committee is expected to continue its verification and cross-examination of claimants before determining those whose applications meet the criteria for payment from the N500 million relief fund.