The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has accused Governor Ademola Adeleke’s administration of protecting a top civil servant allegedly implicated in the embezzlement of ₦300 million in public funds.
In a statement issued on Friday by its Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi, the APC claimed that a female Permanent Secretary in the state was found to have diverted the funds but was being shielded from prosecution.
The opposition party alleged that the case was being secretly managed by the Adeleke-led government, which purportedly struck a deal allowing the accused official to refund the stolen money instead of facing legal action.
“We demand to know why an administration that preaches transparency and the rule of law would shield a Permanent Secretary caught embezzling over ₦300 million,” the statement read.
The APC also alleged that the embattled civil servant is married to a serving commissioner in the Adeleke cabinet, urging the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Nigeria Police Force to investigate the matter thoroughly.
However, the Osun State Government swiftly debunked the accusations, describing them as “beer parlour gossip elevated to party propaganda.”
In a counter-statement issued by Olawale Rasheed, spokesperson to Governor Adeleke, the government maintained that there was no ₦300 million fraud in any ministry or agency of the state.
“Governor Ademola Adeleke runs a transparent government. There is no ₦300 million scandal anywhere. The APC is merely manufacturing lies to cover up its growing unpopularity in Osun,” Rasheed stated.
He explained that Osun operates under a procurement system with strict due process and financial oversight mechanisms, making it impossible for any official to singlehandedly access such large sums.
Rasheed warned that the state government might pursue legal action against those spreading the “malicious and libellous” claims.
“The allegations are false, unfounded, and a figment of imagination. Governor Adeleke neither tolerates nor shields corruption,” he added.
The government reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and accountability, emphasizing that Adeleke’s administration remains resolute in upholding good governance and the rule of law.
