Osun Commissioner Denies ₦11bn Theft, Hits Back at EFCC Allegations

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The Osun State Government has denied allegations that ₦11 billion was looted from its coffers, describing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s reported claims as “a failed attempt to cover up illegal action through unfounded allegations.”

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In a statement issued on Thursday on X by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, the government insisted that there was no financial misconduct and accused the anti-graft agency of acting on the directive of former Governor Gboyega Oyetola to frustrate the payment of palliatives to workers.

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“The real reason the commission froze the state account on the order of Gboyega Oyetola was to stop the payment of palliatives which the state government promised the workers some months ago,” the statement said.

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The government maintained that despite the account freeze, it had already paid the palliatives to all state workers following negotiations aimed at cushioning the effects of the country’s economic challenges.

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“Fortunately, we have paid the palliatives to all Osun State workers,” the statement added, noting that the subsidy “was not the first time such a cost of living subsidy was paid to Osun workers.”

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Rejecting allegations of misappropriation, the state government accused the EFCC of pursuing a politically motivated investigation.

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“All material facts point to the fact that the commission is pursuing a hatchet job for the Osun APC by illegally freezing the state account and falsely accusing the government of looting ecological and other state funds,” it stated.

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The government further declared: “We don’t loot public funds in Osun State; we deliver on public goods and services.”

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According to the statement, available state resources have been spent on infrastructure, workers’ welfare and sectoral development.

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“There is no fund to loot in Osun State as the little resources we have are expended on the many mega projects, workers welfare and sectoral developments for the benefit of the masses,” the government said.

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It also alleged that the EFCC had been investigating top officials since March 2026 without finding evidence of wrongdoing.

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“The EFCC has been conducting a witch-hunting investigation since March, 2026, without any indicting evidence against top officials,” the statement read, adding that officials had been subjected to weekly harassment intended “to distract them from delivering good governance.”

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The government argued that if the commission had credible evidence of corruption, it should follow due process instead of freezing government accounts.

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“Assuming but not conceding that the EFCC has any evidence of looting as posited, there are established procedures for bringing suspects to book instead of a politically motivated, unlawful freezing of government accounts without recourse to the rule of law,” it said.

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Describing the EFCC’s reported allegations as an afterthought, the state government concluded: “It is sad that a commission will lie to destroy the image of a state to cover up an illegal action that has backfired. This alibi from the commission is an afterthought and it cannot stand the test of truth in reality and the court of public opinion.”

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PUNCH Online had reported EFCC had explained why it froze the bank accounts of the Osun State Government, saying the action was taken to prevent the alleged diversion of public funds despite the state’s August 15 governorship election.

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