Osun Scandal: Ex-Commissioner Alleges Kolapo Alimi Oversaw N3.7bn Fraud on Ghost Project

**Exposes withdrawal of N100m in a day

Former Osun State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Prince Adebayo Adeleke, has accused the current Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Barrister Kolapo Alimi, of financial mismanagement amounting to N3.7 billion. He alleged that substantial sums of public funds were withdrawn under Alimi’s supervision during his tenure as Commissioner for Local Government in the administration of former Governor Rauf Aregbesola.

Adeleke made these claims while speaking at a media parley organized by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Correspondents’ Chapel in Osogbo on Monday. He presented documents that he said showed irregular withdrawals of large sums of money, including N100 million taken in cash within a single day for no official purpose.

According to Adeleke, the documents obtained from a bank statement by the Association of Local Government Executive Secretaries (ALGON) revealed numerous questionable transactions. He specifically pointed to withdrawals made under Alimi’s leadership, describing them as acts of financial recklessness.

Adeleke cited instances of significant cash withdrawals between December 2017 and March 2018. He stated that on December 27, 2017, Jayeola Omoboyede, who was then the ALGON Chairman, withdrew N600 million in six separate transactions of N10 million each. The next day, December 28, 2017, Temilade Olokungboye, the then ALGON Secretary, allegedly withdrew N70 million in cash from an FCMB account. Adeleke noted that Olokungboye is now the Special Adviser to the current Governor on Children’s Affairs.

Further withdrawals allegedly took place on December 28, 2017, with multiple N10 million transactions recorded on the same day. Adeleke claimed that on March 7, 2018, Olokungboye withdrew multiple sums, including N10 million, N10 million, N10 million, and N3.5 million, all within one day.

Adeleke added that on March 29, 2018, Omoboyede and Olokungboye together withdrew N100 million in a single day. He further alleged that Olokungboye used different names to withdraw public funds, sometimes using her full name, Temilade Olokungboye, and other times using variations like “Temilade” or “Kaleed.”

In his remarks, Adeleke dismissed allegations of money laundering against former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, insisting that Oyetola was a man of integrity and financial prudence. He claimed that those who accused Oyetola had no evidence to support their allegations, whereas he had documented proof of financial misconduct under Alimi’s tenure.

Adeleke expressed confidence that those responsible for the alleged financial irregularities would face legal consequences. He described the transactions as a betrayal of public trust and an example of corruption within the Osun State government during the Aregbesola administration.

As of now, Barrister Kolapo Alimi has not publicly responded to these allegations. The accusations have sparked discussions about financial accountability in Osun State, raising concerns about how public funds were managed under past administrations. The matter may prompt further investigations by relevant authorities to determine whether any legal action will be taken.