The Osun State Government has taken legal action against the former governor, Gboyega Oyetola, by submitting a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The petition accused Oyetola, now the Minister of Blue Economy, of mismanaging a $20 million World Bank grant meant for improving healthcare services in the state.
According to the document sighted by News About Nigeria dated March 7, 2025, Oyetola, who led a special committee overseeing the grant, allegedly failed to follow due process in awarding contracts for renovating 320 primary healthcare centers.
Instead of allowing competitive bidding as required by law, the contracts were reportedly given to individuals linked to his administration, including former government officials and their associates.
The state government claimed that some of these contractors had no experience in construction.
Businesses such as food vendors, salon operators, and web designers allegedly received contracts for the renovations, leading to poor-quality work while the full payments were made.
Companies named in the petition include those linked to high-ranking officials from Oyetola’s administration.
Beyond the healthcare grant, the petition also raised concerns about money laundering.
It alleged that over ₦1.5 billion was funneled through the Osun chapter of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) between January and October 2022.
Financial records reportedly show large cash withdrawals from government accounts into a private account belonging to a local government employee, with no clear evidence of how the funds were used.
In response, a former commissioner under Oyetola’s administration dismissed the allegations, calling them baseless.
He insisted that no official notice had been sent to him regarding the petition and accused the current administration of trying to tarnish his reputation.
The EFCC is expected to review the petition and determine the next steps in the investigation.
