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DCFS targets minister in probe: Investigation focuses on $60,000 in bank
Chicago Tribune ^ | 10/01/2005 | John Chase

Posted on 10/01/2005 9:50:50 AM PDT by Mike Bates

More than $60,000 in child welfare funds landed in a bank account controlled by a former state official and community activist with long-standing ties to Gov. Rod Blagojevich, according to a state investigative report reviewed by the Tribune.

Bamani Obadele, a well-known South Side minister who campaigned for Blagojevich in 2002, resigned in August from the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, where he oversaw adoption and foster family programs.

Obadele, who said he left the $65,000-a-year job for personal reasons, has not been charged with any wrongdoing and denied in an interview Friday that he has done anything illegal.

But the department's inspector general recommended in July that Obadele be suspended without pay from his job as deputy director of external affairs. An investigation had found that three private agencies overseeing DCFS contracts made payments totaling $62,754 in DCFS funds that ended up in a bank account controlled solely by Obadele, according to a confidential interim report reviewed by the Tribune.

The matter was referred to law enforcement, according to the July 29 reported signed by Denise Kane, the DCFS inspector general.

It remains unclear how aware, if it all, the private organizations were of the alleged scheme.

The governor's office and DCFS on Friday confirmed the existence of an ongoing investigation into Obadele, but declined to discuss details.

In an interview with the Tribune, Obadele declined to answer direct questions about the allegations and said he hadn't heard them before. He said he has been interviewed several times by representatives from the DCFS inspector general's office.

"I don't know what the allegation is. This is all new to me," he said. "I almost find it laughable."

(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; US: Illinois
KEYWORDS: blowhardevich
Another success story for Gov. Hairspray, who came into office promising to "shake up a system in Springfield that accepts corruption."

Michael M. Bates: My Side of the Swamp

1 posted on 10/01/2005 9:50:54 AM PDT by Mike Bates
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To: Mike Bates
Bamani Obadele? A Nigerian involved in financial fraud or corruption? No...
2 posted on 10/01/2005 11:05:22 AM PDT by Wally_Kalbacken
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To: Wally_Kalbacken
A Nigerian involved in financial fraud or corruption?

No, a Chicagoan, original name Paris Thompson, involved in financial fraud or corruption.

3 posted on 10/01/2005 11:19:09 AM PDT by Mike Bates (Irish Alzheimer's victim: I only remember the grudges.)
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To: Mike Bates
I couldn't find any mention of the fact that the Governor of Illinois is a DEMOCRAT.....

Even the Governor's state website doesn't mention he's a freaking DEMOCRAT....

Is Illinois trying to compete with Louisiana with the most corrupt politicians and proverty pimps on the State Payroll?

From the header found at Google -- It appears the good "minister" is playing the role of the Democrat Plantation "overload".....whipping the slaves into line for a little "grease" from the DEMOCRAT Governor..

Chicago Tribune | Minister resigns high DCFS post
Rod Blagojevich had known Bamani Obadele for 20 years when the governor hired the South Side Minister. Obadele helped deliver key black votes for .........??????????

Semper Fi

4 posted on 10/01/2005 11:41:26 AM PDT by river rat (You may turn the other cheek, but I prefer to look into my enemy's vacant dead eyes.)
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To: river rat

At the rate he's going, the Rodster is gonna make former Gov. Ryan look like a reformer.


5 posted on 10/01/2005 12:02:20 PM PDT by Mike Bates (Irish Alzheimer's victim: I only remember the grudges.)
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