The Osun State Government has maintained its stance on investigating allegations of a $20 million fraud linked to former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, despite strong opposition from the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Governor Ademola Adeleke’s administration submitted a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), accusing Oyetola of money laundering and violations of procurement laws.
The petition has sparked a heated political battle, with the Osun APC dismissing the allegations as an attempt to tarnish Oyetola’s image. The party’s Media Director, Kola Olabisi, while speaking to journalists in Abuja on Sunday, described the petition as a politically motivated move.
“When their attempt to forcibly take over local government council offices failed, they resorted to crude tactics to damage the image of former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, a man of candor and probity who served the state honorably,” Olabisi said.
He challenged the state government to release a list of contractors and project details to support its claims, noting that Oyetola’s administration had published information on over 100 contracts, while Adeleke’s government had only shared details of seven in two years.
However, the Osun State Government dismissed the APC’s reaction, insisting that the petition was based on a thorough investigation. Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, defended the probe, stating that it was not politically driven.
“To set the record straight, the EFCC petition is the result of a painstaking, evidence-based process that began in early 2023. A Contract Review Committee was established to examine the financial dealings of the previous administration, and its findings uncovered widespread corruption, due process violations, and financial mismanagement under Oyetola,” Alimi said.
According to him, a White Paper Committee reviewed and validated the findings before recommending legal action against those involved. The state government approved the committee’s recommendations in 2024.
Alimi further alleged that funds meant for renovating 320 primary healthcare centers were mismanaged, with contracts awarded without competitive bidding. He claimed these projects were handed to political associates and family members of officials, many of whom lacked construction experience. Despite receiving full payments, he added, the contractors delivered poor-quality work.
He also accused the previous government of laundering N1.5 billion through the Osun chapter of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) between January and October 2022.
“Financial records from Zenith Bank show that funds were funneled into a private account linked to Akeem Ibitoye, a local government employee and Director of Finance at Ejigbo Local Government. Subsequent cash withdrawals ranging from N10m to N30m were made daily with no records of official use,” he revealed.
The commissioner assured residents that the Adeleke administration remained committed to transparency and accountability.
“A responsible government does not ignore this level of financial recklessness and fraud. Unlike the APC, which thrives on impunity, Governor Adeleke’s administration remains committed to accountability, transparency, and the rule of law.
“The former officials implicated in this petition should prepare to answer for their actions instead of issuing misleading press statements,” he added.
The Osun government expressed confidence in the EFCC’s ability to carry out a fair investigation, stating that no political pressure would prevent those found guilty from facing justice.
