The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has rejected Governor Ademola Adeleke’s allegations that former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola mismanaged a $20m World Bank health grant.
Adeleke had petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), accusing Oyetola of money laundering, financial misconduct, and breaching the Public Procurement Act while distributing the funds meant for healthcare improvements.
The petition, dated 7th March, claimed that during Oyetola’s tenure, a committee was set up to spend the funds on renovating 320 primary healthcare centres.
However, Osun government lawyer Pelumi Olajengbesi alleged that the project, known as Save One Million Lives, violated the Public Procurement Act 2007. He argued that Oyetola failed to conduct a bidding process, depriving the state of qualified contractors.
Olajengbesi further alleged that contracts were awarded to businesses with no construction expertise, including food vendors, salon operators, supermarket owners, and web designers.
Reacting at a press conference in Abuja on Sunday, March 9, APC Media Director Kola Olabisi dismissed the petition as a political vendetta, accusing Adeleke of targeting APC leaders over his inability to control local government administration.
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“When the attempt to force their ways to the local government council offices failed, they are now resorting to another crude tactic of attempting to tarnish the image of the former governor of the state, Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola, a man of candour and probity who served the state honourably,” Olabisi stated.
He described the allegations as propaganda and insisted that the World Bank grant was properly utilised and closely monitored by the donor.
Midway through his remarks, Olabisi presented documents detailing how the funds were spent, asserting that all contracts adhered to procurement laws.
“We will share with you details of how the Oyetola government enhanced and scaled up health in Osun through the grant. We invite the media and the public to peruse the document, containing pictures of facilities and programmes executed to verify our claims,” he said.
“Not only was the fund used to improve health in the state, but the contract awards followed the relevant procurement laws of the state. We make bold to state that no commissioner, adviser, or appointee of ex-Governor Oyetola was awarded contracts while serving in government.”
He challenged Adeleke’s administration to publish the names of contractors and contract award dates if it had evidence of wrongdoing.
“Unlike Oyetola, who uploaded 110 contract and procurement details on the government portal in three years, the current government has only published seven contract details in two years, raising eyebrows about his commitment to accountability and transparency,” Olabisi added.