Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
The Osun State Government has strongly rejected allegations that N11 billion was looted from its treasury, accusing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of using the claims to justify what it described as the illegal freezing of the state’s bank accounts.
In a statement posted on X on Thursday, Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, said the allegations were “a failed attempt to cover up illegal action through unfounded allegations.”
According to the government, the EFCC froze the state’s accounts on the directive of former Governor Gboyega Oyetola to frustrate the payment of palliatives promised to workers.
“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 read.
The government, however, said it had already fulfilled the promise despite the account freeze.
“Fortunately, we have paid the palliatives to all Osun State workers,” it stated, adding that the subsidy “was not the first time such a cost of living subsidy was paid to Osun workers.”
Rejecting allegations of financial misconduct, the government accused the anti-graft agency of pursuing a politically motivated investigation.
“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.”
The statement insisted that the Adeleke administration had remained committed to prudent management of public funds.
“We don’t loot public funds in Osun State; we deliver on public goods and services.”
The government said available resources had been channelled into infrastructure, workers’ welfare and sectoral development.
“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.”
It also claimed the EFCC had investigated top government officials since March 2026 without uncovering any evidence of wrongdoing.
“The EFCC has been conducting a witch-hunting investigation since March, 2026, without any indicting evidence against top officials,” the statement said.
The government further alleged that senior officials had been subjected to weekly harassment aimed at distracting them from governance.
It argued that if the EFCC had evidence of corruption, it should follow due legal process rather than freezing government accounts.
“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.”
Describing the commission’s allegations as an afterthought, the government said:
“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.”
The response follows the EFCC’s explanation that it froze the Osun State Government’s bank accounts to prevent the alleged diversion of public funds despite the state’s August 15 governorship election.
