Osun APC lawmakers petition Members of the All Progressives Congress caucus in the National Assembly from Osun State have urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission to investigate alleged irregularities in the state’s payroll.
In a joint statement issued on Friday by the lawmakers representing Obokun/Oriade, Ijesa South and Ife federal constituencies, Oluwole Oke, Olusanya Omirin and Abimbola Ajilesoro, the caucus described reports of widespread payroll fraud and the alleged discovery of 15,000 ghost workers as disturbing.
The legislators said the claims stemmed from an audit reportedly conducted by Sally Tibbot Consulting Limited, which they alleged uncovered financial misconduct under the current administration.
However, the Osun State Government has dismissed the report, accusing the consulting firm of carrying out a biased assignment and insisting that it failed to produce the names of the purported ghost workers.
Despite the government’s rebuttal, the APC caucus maintained that the audit findings pointed to what it termed large-scale opacity, corruption and fiscal mismanagement.
The lawmakers stated that they had for months raised concerns over what they described as a lack of transparency in the management of public funds in the state, adding that the recent revelations reinforced their position.
They further alleged that the audit uncovered instances where a single Bank Verification Number was linked to the payment of salaries to no fewer than 5,615 workers, a development they said cast serious doubt on the integrity of the payroll system.
The caucus also raised concerns over alleged links to top government figures, including Governor Ademola Adeleke, businessman Dr Deji Adeleke and the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr Kazeem Akinleye.
According to the lawmakers, representatives of the consulting firm clarified during a television appearance that the audit covered transactions from January 2023 to June 2024 and did not relate to the tenure of former governor Adegboyega Oyetola.
They argued that in an accountable system, officials mentioned in the allegations would step aside pending investigation.
The caucus also referred to a purported leaked audio involving an official of the consulting firm and the governor’s Chief of Staff, describing it as troubling and suggestive of attempts to pressure the auditors.
The lawmakers consequently called on anti-graft agencies to immediately investigate the alleged payroll fraud and prosecute anyone found culpable.