Group Drags Ondo Finance Commissioner, Chief of Protocol, Others to EFCC Over Alleged Corruption

A new wave of corruption allegations is rocking Ondo State, as a civic pressure group, the Movement for the Redemption of Ondo State (MROS), has petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe top members of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s cabinet.

In a strongly worded petition dated and submitted through the EFCC Lagos Zonal Office, the group accused some key government officials of engaging in financial crimes, abuse of public office, contract racketeering, and diversion of local government funds.

The petition, signed by MROS President, Ekujuni Abayomi, alleged that the activities of certain cabinet members have crippled local governance, enriched a few individuals, and endangered the developmental future of Ondo State.

At the center of the allegations are four senior officials of the state government, namely Commissioner for Finance, Mrs. Omowunmi Isaac  accused of being the mastermind of what the group described as “monumental diversion of public funds.” MROS claims she has overseen unauthorized withdrawals, inflated contracts, and suspicious acquisitions of properties within and outside Akure. Also named is the Chief of Protocol to the Governor, Abayomi Olusanya , described as “a conduit for siphoned funds,” he is alleged to have suddenly acquired prime properties in Akure, including residences linked to the upscale Ojaja Park estate. The group also named the Commissioner for Works, Mr. Ayorinde Olawoye  whom he  accused of manipulating contract figures, particularly in the controversial Judicial Village Project, where insiders allege massive inflation of project costs.

Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Kayode Ajulo (SAN) , is also implicated as a co-supervisor of the Judicial Village Project, with accusations of complicity in mismanagement and deliberate cover-ups.

According to the petition, “funds meant for local government development have been systematically siphoned through ghost projects, inflated contracts, and dubious transfers, leaving grassroots councils bankrupt.”

Ondo State, historically known for its bold strides in education and resource management during the late Adekunle Ajasin administration, has in recent years become entangled in allegations of mismanagement of oil-producing area revenues and local government allocations.

The Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC) has been under scrutiny several times in the past over mismanagement of the 13% derivation funds. Similarly, successive administrations have faced accusations of bloated contracts, abandoned projects, and the diversion of funds meant for rural development.

The current allegations add to what political observers describe as a pattern of elite capture of state resources, particularly as Ondo prepares for the upcoming governorship election.

MROS insists its petition is not politically motivated, but rather a “patriotic intervention to save Ondo State from the stranglehold of corruption.” The group has also copied President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the ICPC Chairman in its submission.

The group warned that failure of the EFCC to act decisively could spark a mass civil society movement in the state.

“This petition is not a witch-hunt but a call for accountability. The people of Ondo State cannot remain silent while their future is mortgaged by a few individuals driven by greed,” Abayomi stated in the petition.

President Bola Tinubu has repeatedly emphasized his administration’s commitment to fighting corruption. Analysts suggest that the EFCC’s response to this petition will be a litmus test of how seriously the administration is willing to pursue anti-graft measures at the subnational level, especially in politically sensitive states like Ondo.

The EFCC, which has in the past investigated state governments over diversion of local government allocations, now faces pressure to either open a full-scale probe or risk being accused of selective prosecution.

As of press time, the Ondo State government had not issued an official statement in response to the allegations. 

With the state already tense over upcoming political contests and the administration facing internal divisions, the corruption allegations threaten to deepen the cracks. Civil society activists say the probe, if carried out, could redefine accountability in Ondo State.

For now, all eyes are on the EFCC to determine whether the petition marks the beginning of another high-profile investigation or fades into the growing list of unresolved corruption allegations in Nigeria’s political landscape.