The Osun State Government has rejected allegations that it looted ₦11 billion from the state’s coffers, insisting that no public funds were stolen and accusing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission of pursuing a politically motivated agenda.
The government described the allegation as an attempt by the anti-graft agency to justify what it called the unlawful freezing of the state’s bank accounts.
In a statement issued on Thursday by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, the government maintained that the EFCC acted at the instance of former Governor Gboyega Oyetola to frustrate the payment of palliatives approved for workers.
According to the commissioner, the freezing of the state’s accounts was intended to stop the government from fulfilling its commitment to workers amid the prevailing economic hardship.
“The real reason the commission froze the state account on the order of Gboyega Oyetola was to stop the payment of palliatives which the state government promised the workers some months ago,” the statement read.
Alimi, however, said the government’s plan was not derailed, noting that the palliative payments had already been made to workers after due consultations.
He added that the intervention was not the first cost-of-living support provided by the current administration.
Reacting to claims of financial misappropriation, the commissioner insisted that the administration had remained committed to transparency and prudent management of public resources.
“We don’t loot public funds in Osun State; we deliver on public goods and services,” he stated.
The government said the state’s available resources had been channelled into infrastructure projects, workers’ welfare and other developmental programmes, stressing that there was no money to divert.
“There is no fund to loot in Osun State as the little resources we have are expended on the many mega projects, workers’ welfare and sectoral developments for the benefit of the masses,” the statement added.
The government further alleged that the EFCC had subjected senior government officials to months of investigations without uncovering any evidence of wrongdoing.
According to the statement, the commission has been investigating top officials since March 2026 and has failed to establish any case of corruption.
It argued that if the anti-graft agency possessed credible evidence against any official, it should follow due legal procedures rather than freezing government accounts.
The state government also described the EFCC’s allegation as an afterthought aimed at defending what it called an illegal action.
“It is sad that a commission will lie to destroy the image of a state to cover up an illegal action that has backfired. This alibi from the commission is an afterthought and it cannot stand the test of truth in reality and the court of public opinion,” the statement concluded.
The reaction comes after the EFCC explained that it froze the Osun State Government’s bank accounts to prevent the alleged diversion of public funds ahead of the August 15 governorship election.