A group of professionals in the Epe, Lagos State has accused the Local Government Chairman, Princess Surah Olayemi Animashaun, of plagiarism, demanding a public apology within 72 hours or she will face legal action.
The chairman was accused of plagiarising in a recent press statement, which the group claims was copied verbatim from a 2015 address by former Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola.
In an open letter signed by Fatai A. Adebanjo and Dr. Femi Olulaja on behalf of Epe Young Professionals, the group expressed outrage over what they described as an “intellectually reprehensible” act.
“This is not just a failure of leadership; it is a public disgrace of the highest order,” the letter stated. The letter added, “A leader who cannot articulate her own thoughts in the face of allegations but instead steals another’s words is not just unfit for office but a danger to the credibility of the institution she represents.”
According to them, the chairman’s response to allegations of financial misconduct and other controversies was nothing more than an unoriginal, copied document with only minor modifications to fit the circumstances.
The group questioned whether the chairman lacked a capable media team to craft an original response and criticised her aides for failing to prevent such an embarrassment.
“As if the allegations of financial misconduct, embezzlement, criminal breach of trust, contract inflation, and certificate forgery were not bad enough, you have now added intellectual fraud to the growing list of controversies surrounding your administration,” the letter read.
The professionals emphasised that their demand for an apology was not an act of intimidation but a necessary step toward restoring public trust. They further asked the chairman to immediately hire a competent spokesperson capable of handling public communications professionally.
“This matter will not be swept under the carpet. If you refuse to take responsibility, you must be prepared for the most rigorous legal and intellectual challenge,” they warned. To further demonstrate their commitment, the group revealed that they had engaged a reputable law firm to act on their behalf if the chairman failed to meet their demand within the deadline.
“The time for accountability is now. Epe deserves better. We will not stand by and watch our community descend into intellectual and administrative mediocrity,” the letter concluded.
As of press time, there has been no official response from the chairman’s office regarding the allegations.
