The Osun State Government has rejected claims by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that ₦11 billion was looted from the state’s account, describing the allegation as baseless and an attempt to justify what it called an unlawful action by the anti-graft agency.
In a strongly worded response on Wednesday, the state’s Commissioner for Information said no such amount had been stolen from the government, insisting that the EFCC’s claim was false and misleading.
The commissioner accused the anti-corruption agency of resorting to “unfounded allegations” in a bid to legitimise what the state described as an illegal operation, maintaining that the government remains transparent and accountable in its financial dealings.
According to the state government, the allegation does not reflect the true state of Osun’s finances and should be disregarded by members of the public. It argued that the EFCC’s narrative was an attempt to divert attention from the legal questions surrounding its actions.
The development marks the latest flashpoint in the growing dispute between the Osun State Government and the EFCC, with both sides trading accusations over the management of public funds.
While the EFCC has alleged that about ₦11 billion was diverted from the state’s account, the Adeleke administration insists there is no evidence to support the claim, reiterating that public funds are being managed in line with due process and existing financial regulations. (Osun State Official Website)
The controversy is expected to intensify calls for an independent clarification of the claims as both parties maintain opposing positions over the handling of the state’s finances.
