Oyo Government says Governor Seyi Makinde has nothing to hide from the EFCC, insisting financial records will be released in response to lawful requests.
The Oyo State Government has dismissed suggestions that Governor Seyi Makinde is attempting to shield his administration from scrutiny by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), insisting that neither the governor nor the state has anything to conceal.
The government said it was ready to cooperate with any legitimate investigation and provide relevant financial documents whenever such requests are properly made and clearly defined.
The position was conveyed by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju, in a statement issued in response to criticism from the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
The APC had accused the Makinde administration of allegedly taking steps to prevent the EFCC from examining financial transactions and records associated with the state government.
The opposition party, through its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, reportedly expressed concern over what it described as efforts by the governor to frustrate the anti-corruption agency from gaining access to documents covering the financial activities of the administration.
But the governor’s media aide rejected the allegation, arguing that the state government’s decision to approach the Federal High Court over the EFCC’s request should not be interpreted as an attempt to obstruct an investigation.
According to Olanrewaju, the legal action was taken because the state government wanted clarification regarding the nature and scope of the request made by the commission.
The EFCC had reportedly requested copies of contracts awarded by the state government, as well as details of transactions involving contractors between 2021 and 2025.
Olanrewaju described the demand as a blanket request, arguing that the state government needed the commission to identify the specific contractors, companies or transactions that were the subject of its investigation.
He said the government had indicated its willingness to provide documents relevant to any specific investigation but wanted the EFCC to provide further details about the areas being examined.
The governor’s aide claimed that the commission did not respond to the request for clarification, prompting the state government to seek the interpretation of the Federal High Court.
He maintained that approaching the court was therefore a lawful step aimed at determining the proper scope of the EFCC’s demand rather than an effort to prevent the commission from carrying out its statutory responsibilities.
Olanrewaju further insisted that Governor Makinde was not afraid of the EFCC or any other federal government agency, stressing that the state government had no reason to evade legitimate scrutiny.
He said the government would make its financial records available whenever a proper and lawful request was presented.
“The decision of Oyo State Government to approach the Federal High Court for clarification on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC’s) demand for copies of all contracts and details of transactions with contractors between 2021 and 2025 is not an attempt to forestall investigation because neither the state government nor Governor Makinde has anything to hide,” he stated.
The media aide also used the opportunity to defend the financial management record of the Makinde administration, arguing that the government’s performance across various sectors reflected what he described as prudent management of public resources.
He listed several projects and programmes implemented by the administration, including road construction and rehabilitation, improvements in primary healthcare facilities and efforts to expand access to quality education across the state.
According to him, the administration has also prioritised the welfare of workers by ensuring the payment of salaries and meeting pension obligations.
He added that the government had introduced various empowerment initiatives designed to support residents and improve their economic opportunities.
Olanrewaju further claimed that the administration had worked to create a business environment capable of attracting investment and supporting private-sector growth.
He argued that the combination of infrastructure development, social interventions and economic policies demonstrated the government’s commitment to using public funds to improve the lives of residents.
The governor’s media aide described the business environment under Makinde as one of the most favourable in the state since the beginning of the current democratic era in 1999.
His comments came against the backdrop of continued political disagreements between the ruling administration and the APC, particularly on issues concerning governance, accountability and the management of public resources.
The controversy over the EFCC request has consequently become another point of political debate, with the opposition demanding greater scrutiny of the state government’s financial dealings while the administration insists that it has nothing to hide.
For the Makinde administration, the central issue is not whether public finances should be subjected to scrutiny but whether requests for official documents should be specific enough to identify the transactions or entities under investigation.
The government maintains that it is willing to cooperate with lawful investigations but believes that due process must be followed in requesting and obtaining official records.
Olanrewaju therefore urged the public not to interpret the state’s court action as a refusal to cooperate with the EFCC.
Instead, he presented the decision as an attempt to obtain legal clarification while reaffirming the administration’s readiness to provide relevant documents where a proper and lawful request is made.
The development is expected to sustain public debate over transparency and accountability in the management of state resources, particularly as political parties continue to position themselves ahead of future electoral contests in Oyo State.
For now, the state government has maintained that Governor Makinde’s administration remains open to legitimate scrutiny and that its decision to seek judicial clarification does not amount to an attempt to frustrate the work of the anti-graft agency.
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