The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has issued a formal demand for the resignation of Governor Ademola Adeleke, following explosive allegations of a massive payroll fraud within the state’s civil service.
The opposition party’s call for the Governor to step down follows a staff audit report which purportedly uncovered an annual loss of N13,716,914,129.28 to “ghost workers.” The party has further petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to launch an immediate and thorough investigation into the matter.
The allegations stems from a report by Sally Tibbot Consulting (Nig.) Ltd, a firm engaged by the Osun State Government in January 2023 to sanitise the state’s payroll. The firm’s Chief Executive Officer, Sa’adat Bakrin-Ottun, reportedly identified pervasive irregularities within the public service system.
Most striking among the findings is the allegation that salary payments intended for 5,615 ghost workers were being funnelled into a single bank account. The consultant further alleged that the report detailing these discrepancies was submitted not only to the Governor but also to his elder brother, Dr Deji Adeleke, as far back as July 2024.
During a press conference held in Osogbo on Friday, the APC Director of Media and Publicity, Kola Olabisi, expressed grave concern over the “alleged complicity” of the Governor’s inner circle. The party specifically named Dr Deji Adeleke and the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Alhaji Kazeem Akinleye, as figures who must be investigated.
The APC argued that the governance of the state appears to have been hijacked by non-state actors.
“It is particularly troubling that the audit findings were reportedly presented to Dr Deji Adeleke while the elected governor appeared sidelined,” Mr Olabisi stated. “This development raises serious questions about the structure of authority and accountability within the current administration.”
The opposition party has raised several critical questions regarding the administration’s perceived inaction since the discovery of the fraud:
- Delayed Action: Why has the administration failed to implement the audit’s recommendations since the report was submitted in July 2024?
- Beneficiaries: Who exactly has been the recipient of these multi-billion naira fraudulent payments over the past three years?
- Governance Integrity: Why were sensitive state audit findings shared with a private family member rather than through strictly official channels?
The APC maintains that the alleged “milking” of state resources represents a significant betrayal of the people of Osun. As of the time of this report, the State Government has yet to issue a formal rebuttal to the specific claims regarding the involvement of the Governor’s relatives in the audit process.
The pressure now shifts to the federal anti-graft agencies to determine the veracity of these claims and the extent of the alleged shortage of state wealth.
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