Oyetola, Adeleke’s Commissioners Clash Over Alleged N3.7bn Mismanagement

The political rivalry between Osun State’s All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftains and the state government escalated on Monday as former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Adebayo Adeleke, accused his successor, Kolapo Alimi, of facilitating the withdrawal of N3.7 billion by officials of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON).

Adeleke, who served under former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola from 2019 to 2022, made the claims while responding to a petition filed against him by the state government.

The petition, submitted to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), accuses Adeleke of illegally securing Primary Healthcare Centre renovation contracts while in office.

Allegations of Financial Mismanagement

Speaking to journalists in Osogbo alongside elected local government chairmen, Adeleke dismissed the allegations against him, instead accusing the current administration of mismanaging N2 billion in COVID-19 relief funds and awarding contracts without due process.

He alleged that part of the missing funds was withdrawn by ALGON officials during the tenure of former Governor Rauf Aregbesola, citing multiple transactions, including:

N60 million withdrawn on December 27, 2017, in six tranches of N10 million each by former ALGON Chairman Jayeola Omoboyede.
N70 million withdrawn the next day by then ALGON Secretary, Temilade Olokungboye, now Special Adviser to Governor Adeleke on Children’s Affairs.
N100 million withdrawn on March 29, 2018, by Omoboyede and Olokungboye.

Adeleke argued that the government was scapegoating him without proof while ignoring its own financial records.

Alimi Responds, Dares Adeleke to Petition EFCC

In response, Kolapo Alimi dismissed Adeleke’s claims, challenging him to formally petition the EFCC if he had evidence of wrongdoing.

Alimi maintained that the allegations against Adeleke were valid, stressing that ALGON operates independently and is not directly supervised by a commissioner.

He clarified that during his tenure, no funds were transferred from government accounts to private accounts, unlike the allegations against Adeleke.

Alimi also pointed out that three officials—Jayeola Omoboyede, Sekinat Olokungboye, and Kujembola (current APC state treasurer)—were signatories to the ALGON account, questioning why Adeleke omitted Kujembola’s name from his claims.

“The Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) has already invited Adeleke, and the EFCC will soon follow suit for prosecution,” Alimi added.