The Osun State Government and the All Progressives Congress (APC) have engaged in a heated exchange over an alleged ₦300 million corruption scandal said to involve a senior female civil servant in the state.
In a statement released on Friday, APC’s Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi, accused Governor Ademola Adeleke’s administration of shielding a female Permanent Secretary reportedly caught embezzling state funds.
The opposition party claimed that some political figures had exploited what it described as “administrative hollowness” in the current government to siphon public resources.
“We demand to know why an administration that professes accountability and rule of law is protecting a female Permanent Secretary who allegedly diverted over ₦300 million of government funds,” the APC stated.
According to the party, the matter was being handled secretly, alleging that there was a quiet arrangement for the accused official to refund the money instead of facing prosecution.
“A government that claims transparency should not make such a serious corruption case a discreet affair,” the statement added, while calling on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Nigeria Police to intervene and ensure justice.
The APC further alleged that the implicated official is the wife of a serving commissioner in Adeleke’s cabinet.
However, the Osun State Government swiftly dismissed the allegations as “beer parlour gossip elevated to the level of party propaganda.”
In a counter-statement, the Governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, said there was no truth to any report of a ₦300 million scandal.
“There is no ₦300 million scam in any Osun government ministry or agency. Governor Ademola Adeleke runs a transparent government,” Rasheed insisted.
He accused the APC of fabricating lies to distract the public from its waning popularity in the state.
“Osun operates a procurement system with strict oversight and due process. It’s unthinkable that a ministry official could handle such a huge sum unilaterally,” he said.
Rasheed also hinted that the government may take legal action against those spreading what he described as libellous and baseless allegations.
“Governor Adeleke has never—and will never—shield any official involved in corruption. Our administration stands firmly for accountability and transparency,” he added.
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