Osun State Officials Clash Over Alleged Mismanagement of N3.7 Billion

The political tension between Osun State’s All Progressives Congress (APC) and the state government intensified on Monday as former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Adebayo Adeleke, accused his successor, Kolapo Alimi, of facilitating the withdrawal of N3.7 billion by officials of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON).

Adeleke, who served under former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola from 2019 to 2022, made the accusations while responding to a petition filed against him by the state government. The petition, which was submitted to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), accuses him of illegally securing renovation contracts for Primary Healthcare Centres while in office.

Speaking to journalists in Osogbo alongside elected local government chairmen, Adeleke dismissed the allegations against him, instead accusing the current administration of financial mismanagement. He claimed that the government had misused N2 billion in COVID-19 relief funds and awarded contracts without following due process.

Adeleke further alleged that some of the missing funds were withdrawn by ALGON officials during the administration of former Governor Rauf Aregbesola. He provided details of several transactions, including:

• N60 million withdrawn on December 27, 2017, in six separate tranches of N10 million each by the former ALGON Chairman, Jayeola Omoboyede.
• N70 million withdrawn the next day by the then ALGON Secretary, Temilade Olokungboye, who now serves as Special Adviser to Governor Ademola Adeleke on Children’s Affairs.
• N100 million withdrawn on March 29, 2018, by Omoboyede and Olokungboye.

He argued that the government was unfairly targeting him while ignoring its own financial records. He insisted that there was no evidence to support the allegations against him, claiming the accusations were politically motivated.

In response, Kolapo Alimi dismissed Adeleke’s claims and challenged him to formally petition the EFCC if he had proof of financial misconduct. Alimi maintained that the allegations against Adeleke were credible and insisted that ALGON operates independently, without direct oversight from the commissioner’s office.

He clarified that, under his leadership, no government funds were transferred into private accounts, unlike the allegations against Adeleke’s tenure. Alimi also pointed out that three individuals—Jayeola Omoboyede, Sekinat Olokungboye, and Kujembola, the current APC state treasurer—were signatories to the ALGON account. He questioned why Adeleke had omitted Kujembola’s name from his accusations.

Alimi further revealed that the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) had already invited Adeleke for questioning and that the EFCC would soon take further action. “The EFCC will soon follow suit for prosecution,” he added.

The exchange highlights the ongoing political rivalry between the APC and the current Osun State administration,