Oyetola did not call for bidding as mandatorily required under the PPA. He did not allow competition, which would have afforded the state the best-qualified contractors to handle the projects.
The government of Osun State has submitted a formal petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. They are requesting an investigation into the allegations against Gboyega Oyetola. He is the current Minister of Blue Economy and the immediate former governor. It is alleged that he misappropriated a health grant from the World Bank amounting to twenty million dollars.
Oyetola faced serious accusations of money laundering, financial misconduct, and breaches of the Public Procurement Act brought forth by the government.
The allegations were made about the distribution of the grant. This grant was intended for the betterment of the state’s health sector.
Oyetola, while serving as governor, presided over a special Health n Committee. The committee was responsible for assigning and using the grant funds. This is stated in a copy of the petition that has been acknowledged and dated March 7, 2025.
Remi Omowaye, Dr. Rafiu Isamatu, and Bola Oyebamiji were among the previous government officials. They made up the committee that chose to renovate 320 primary health care centers around the state. The renovation was funded with a total of $20 million.
Pelumi Olajengbesi, the government’s counsel, allegedly stated in the petition. He said, “This so-called renovation of primary health care centres involved building.” It also included renovation and adjustments. Some of these centres were restructured to attain the position of modern health centres.
“Having made these decisions, the Oyetola-led committee decided to award the contracts for the renovation.
Oyetola violated the clear provisions of the Public Procurement Act, 2007. He did not call for bidding as mandatorily required under the PPA. He didn’t allow competition to find the best qualified contractors for the projects.
“Rather, the former governor breached the provisions of the Act. He awarded the contracts to individuals who were his cabinet members or heads of various government agencies. These individuals were his proxies and cronies. They claimed to have incorporated business names or inactive companies.”
Allegedly, the contract’s beneficiaries included food vendors, web designers, and salon operators. Supermarket owners and others without building expertise were also included. The authorities pointed this out.
Poshpreneurs Nigeria is confidently owned by the children of Olowogboyega Oyebade, the distinguished former Head of Service. Dotfam Multiventures Ltd. is directly linked to the siblings of the former APC State Chairman. The ownership of Ice Firms Nigeria Ltd. is attributed to Adebayo Adeleke, the current Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs. Additionally, Afamoks Web International is prominently associated with Amitolu Shittu, the former Amotekun Field Commander among the noteworthy companies mentioned.
Regarding the claims of money laundering, the state government asserted that more than ₦1.5 billion was transferred through the Osun chapter of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria. This occurred between January and October in 2022.
Abiodun Idowu, the former chairman of ALGON, played a pivotal role in the alleged plans outlined in the petition. Olubisi Oladosu, the secretary of ALGON, was also identified as a key figure in this situation. Furthermore, 28 former caretaker chairmen of local governments were implicated, along with the Honorable Yekeen Adebayo Adeleke, the former commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs, who emerged as another important player in this matter.
“In a similar vein, the government found some financial records. These records clearly show a case of money laundering of huge magnitude by the past administration of Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola.
Money was transferred repeatedly from the ALGON account at Zenith Bank (Account Number: 1016607858). These funds went into the private account of Akeem Ibitoye. He is a local government employee and Director.
The claims were dismissed by the Honorable Yekeen Adebayo, who referred to them as being without merit.
In response to the petition, Adebayo stated, “EFCC has not invited me. I have not seen a copy of the petition. Therefore, I do not know what it is all about.”
“If there is no proof, then the allegations are frivolous and of no stance. I have become a torn in the flesh of Gov adeleke and PDP. I won’t be surprised if some baseless allegations are levied against me.”