Osun APC Lawmakers Demand EFCC, ICPC Probe Over Alleged Ghost Workers

 

Members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from Osun State in the National Assembly have called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate alleged payroll irregularities in the state.

In a joint statement on Friday, lawmakers representing Obokun/Oriade, Ijesa South, and Ife Federal Constituencies—Oluwole Oke, Olusanya Omirin, and Abimbola Ajilesoro—described reports of “widespread irregularities” and the alleged existence of 15,000 ghost workers in the Osun State payroll as disturbing.

The lawmakers cited findings from an audit conducted by Sally Tibbot Consulting Limited, which they said revealed serious financial infractions within the current administration.

The state government, however, has rejected the consultancy’s claims, insisting the firm could not provide the names of the alleged ghost workers, and accused it of carrying out a “hatchet job.”

Despite the government’s stance, the APC lawmakers maintained that the audit findings exposed “an alarming level of opacity, monumental corruption, and financial mismanagement” in the handling of public funds in Osun.

According to the lawmakers, the audit showed that a single Bank Verification Number (BVN) was used to pay salaries for at least 5,615 workers, raising questions about internal controls in the state’s payroll system.

The APC caucus further accused key government figures—including businessman and governor’s godfather Dr. Deji Adeleke and Governor Ademola Adeleke’s Chief of Staff, Mr. Kazeem Akinleye—of being implicated in the alleged fraud.

They claimed that representatives of the consulting firm confirmed on national television that the audit covered transactions between January 2023 and June 2024, and did not relate to the previous administration under Adegboyega Oyetola.

The lawmakers argued that in a system where accountability is upheld, the governor and his aides should have resigned and offered unreserved apologies to the public.

They also referred to a leaked audio purportedly involving a consultant and the governor’s Chief of Staff, which they described as an attempt to intimidate auditors.

The APC caucus concluded by urging the EFCC and ICPC to immediately investigate Governor Adeleke, Dr. Deji Adeleke, Mr. Kazeem Akinleye, and other government officials who may have aided or abetted the alleged ghost worker scandal.