Extortion Claims ‘Baseless,’ Says OGWAMA MD at Ogun NUJ Parley, Hints at Court Action
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Ogun State Waste Management Authority (OGWAMA), Chief Abayomi Hunye, has dismissed allegations of extortion levelled against him, describing them as false, mischievous and orchestrated by disgruntled, suspended waste operators.
The clarification was made during a Media Parley held at the Ogun State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Secretariat, Iwe-Iroyin Abeokuta, where media executives and reporters gathered for an interactive engagement with the leadership of OGWAMA.
Addressing the gathering, Hunye described recent allegations against him as a calculated attempt to tarnish his image and undermine the credibility of OGWAMA.
Global Mirror News reports that the claims followed a protest staged in Oke-Mosan by individuals claiming to be members of the Association of Waste Management Vendors and Recyclers of Nigeria (AWMVRN), who accused the OGWAMA boss of imposing arbitrary levies and extortion within the scrap and recycling sector.
Hunye told journalists that he had never demanded or collected money from any operator, stressing that OGWAMA does not engage in cash transactions.
According to him, all payments by operators are made directly into designated Ogun State Government accounts in line with due process.
“Extortion involves illegal collection of money for personal gain, and that does not apply here,” Hunye said. “Every payment goes straight into Government coffers. I have no personal interest in these funds beyond ensuring that the law and established procedures are strictly followed.”
He further explained that the fee adjustments being referenced were introduced in 2024 after due consultations and approvals, describing it as curious that the matter was being resurrected in 2026 after it had long been resolved.
Hunye also disclosed that OGWAMA had not received any official petition from either the Ogun State House of Assembly or the Nigeria Police, contrary to claims by the protesters, warning that the continued circulation of false allegations could compel him to seek legal redress.
The parley was marked by a show of solidarity from some waste management operators who displayed placards expressing confidence in Hunye’s leadership and support for OGWAMA’s reform Agenda.
In his remarks, the Chairman of AWMVRN, Mr. Adesanya Kunle, disowned the protesters, insisting they were suspended members who lost their status in 2023 over alleged fraudulent and unlawful practices.
He disclosed that the group later formed a parallel association without the approval of the Ogun State Government, in violation of existing regulations.
“These individuals are no longer authentic members of the Association. Their actions are driven by personal interests after their illegal practices were sanctioned,” Adesanya said, adding that their protest was triggered by Hunye’s refusal to compromise standards or condone corruption.
In his opening remarks, the Chairman of the Ogun NUJ Council, Comrade Wale Olanrewaju, welcomed participants and expressed appreciation to members of the pen profession for the confidence, trust and support extended to his administration since assumption of office.
He assured journalists of a more robust, transparent and mutually beneficial engagement with stakeholders, particularly public Institutions, noting that the NUJ under his leadership would continue to uphold professionalism and responsible journalism.
Also speaking, the Secretary of the Council, Comrade Bunmi Adigun, thanked members for turning out in large numbers and commended their sustained commitment to the Union.
He expressed optimism about continued cooperation and solidarity among Journalists in strengthening the Council’s activities.
Reaffirming OGWAMA’s position, Hunye assured residents of Ogun State that the Agency remains committed to transparency, accountability and environmental sustainability, stressing that deliberate attempts to malign the Agency and its leadership would not go unanswered.
Tags: OGWAMA, Ogun NUJ, Wale Olanrewaju, Bunmi Adigun, Abayomi Hunye, Waste Management, Extortion Allegations, AWMVRN, Abeokuta, Ogun State Government, Nigeria News,
