Osun APC Raises Alarm Over Alleged ₦13.7bn Payroll Fraud, Calls For Full Investigation Into Adeleke’s Govt

The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged anti-graft agencies to launch an immediate investigation into an alleged ₦13.7 billion annual payroll fraud it claims is occurring under the administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke.

Addressing journalists in Osogbo on Thursday, the state APC Chairman, Tajudeen Lawal, described the allegation as “mind-boggling” and accused the current government of overseeing a large-scale ghost worker scheme while allegedly shielding those implicated. According to Ireporter Online, Lawal based the party’s position on claims reportedly made by Saadat Ottun, Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Sally Tibbot Consulting Limited, who was said to have uncovered irregularities during a staff audit conducted for the state government.

Lawal alleged that the audit revealed an annual payroll discrepancy amounting to ₦13.7 billion and claimed that a civil servant under the present administration had been receiving salaries meant for 5,615 workers into a single bank account. He further alleged that the audit report was submitted in July 2024 but that no decisive public action had been taken since then.

The APC chairman accused the administration of failing to act despite allegedly identifying individuals linked to multiple bank accounts connected with payroll irregularities. He also raised concerns over the reported involvement of senior officials, alleging possible complicity among top figures within the government. Lawal questioned the structure of authority in the state, particularly over claims that the audit findings were presented to Dr. Deji Adeleke, a member of the Adeleke family, rather than directly addressed by the governor. He equally called on the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Alhaji Kazeem Akinleye, who was reportedly said to head the implementation committee on the audit report, to provide a transparent account of how the findings were handled.

In his remarks, Lawal maintained that Osun State was facing significant governance challenges and alleged that despite identifying individuals connected to payroll discrepancies, the administration had not taken visible corrective measures. He further criticised the government for allegedly dismissing teachers and health workers recruited by the previous APC administration on grounds of financial constraints, while claims of large-scale payroll fraud remained unresolved.

The opposition party also referenced what it described as an out-of-contract purchase of a recommended ₦79 million Automated Payroll Administrative System, alleging that payment was made without formal delivery acceptance. Lawal argued that the government’s reported response of denial and counter-accusations had deepened public suspicion and eroded trust in governance.

The APC called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to conduct what it termed a thorough and transparent investigation into the alleged payroll fraud and ensure that any individual found culpable is brought to justice.

According to Ireporter Online, the Osun State Government had yet to issue an official response to the fresh allegations as of the time this report was filed.