A heated war of words has erupted between the Osun State Government and the All Progressives Congress (APC) over an alleged ₦300 million corruption scandal said to involve a senior female civil servant in the state.
The APC, through its Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi, accused Governor Ademola Adeleke’s administration of shielding the official, who it claimed embezzled over ₦300 million in government funds.
In a statement on Friday, the opposition party alleged that some government officials were exploiting what it described as “administrative hollowness” within the current administration to divert public resources.
“We demand to know why the Adeleke-led government, which claims to uphold accountability and the rule of law, is protecting a Permanent Secretary caught embezzling over ₦300 million of state funds,” the APC said.
The party further alleged that the government had opted for a secret repayment deal instead of prosecuting the official involved. It claimed the accused civil servant was the wife of a serving commissioner in Adeleke’s cabinet.
The APC called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Nigeria Police Force to investigate the matter and ensure justice was served.
Osun Government Denies Allegations
Reacting swiftly, the Osun State Government dismissed the APC’s claims, describing them as “beer parlour gossip elevated to party propaganda.”
Governor Adeleke’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, in a statement on Friday, said there was no truth to the alleged ₦300 million scandal.
“There is no ₦300 million scam or scandal in any government agency or ministry. Governor Ademola Adeleke is running a transparent and accountable government,” Rasheed said.
He accused the APC of fabricating stories to mislead the public and divert attention from its declining popularity in the state.
Rasheed explained that Osun State operates a strict procurement system governed by due process and oversight mechanisms, making it impossible for any official to unilaterally access such large sums.
“Osun operates a procurement law with threshold approvals and compliance checks. It is unthinkable for a ministry official to control ₦300 million without oversight,” he stated.
The governor’s aide also warned that the government may pursue legal action against those spreading the “baseless” allegations.
“These are libellous and unfounded claims. There will be legal consequences for those responsible,” Rasheed cautioned.
He reaffirmed Adeleke’s commitment to transparency, adding that the governor has never — and will never — shield any public officer found guilty of corruption.
“Governor Adeleke does not tolerate corruption and will never protect any official engaged in misconduct,” he concluded.
