Osun APC, PDP Trade Words Over Alleged N13.7bn Payroll Fraud
The Osun State chapters of the All Progressives Congress, APC and the Peoples Democratic Party has trade words over the alleged existence of a N13.7 billion annual payroll fraud under the administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke.
Osun APC chairman, Tajudeen Lawal, had, during a press conference in Osogbo on Friday, said disclosures credited to the Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Sally Tibbot Consulting Limited, Saadat Ottun, had vindicated the party’s long-held concerns about the state government’s payroll system.
But the PDP, in a statement by its state chairman, Mr. Sunday Bisi, dismissed the APC assertions, noting that the allegation was nothing but an APC-sponsored propaganda built around a deeply disputed audit report whose coverage period predates the assumption of office of Governor Ademola Adeleke.
Lawal had, during the press conference, alleged that the revelation confirmed what he described as serious irregularities within the administration, urging anti-corruption agencies to scrutinise the matter.
He called on the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to commence a comprehensive probe.
The APC chairman, while raising concerns over the alleged involvement of individuals within the governor’s inner circle, urged investigators to determine the extent of their roles, if any, in the reported findings.
Lawal also questioned the administrative structure within the state government, “The people of Osun State deserve clarity on the chain of authority and accountability.”
The opposition party also expressed concern over the delayed action following the submission of the audit report in July 2024.
The APC chairman also called for explanations regarding the reported purchase of an Automated Payroll Administrative System valued at N79 million, alleging that payment was made without confirmed delivery or deployment.
Lawal criticised the state government’s denial of the allegations, adding that such responses could heighten public concern.
But the PDP, while reacting, argued that since assuming office, Governor Adeleke has complied with all financial regulations and strengthened transparency mechanisms in public finance management.
“We understand that the staff audit exercise in question covered the most troubling era of payroll manipulation between 2018 and November 2022, a period dominated largely by the APC administration. Therefore, if truly there were fraudulent payment schedules amounting to over ₦13 billion annually, moral responsibility and explanation must rest squarely at the doorsteps of the APC which superintended the payroll architecture during those years.
“It is therefore curious that those who presided over the system at the time under review now cry louder than the bereaved,” Bisi noted.
The PDP chairman added that the current administration did not and will never engage in underhanded dealings capable of crippling the state.
He claimed that if there was any fraud to be investigated, “it is the legacy payroll mess inherited from the past government”, the very system now being sanitised through reforms introduced by the Adeleke administration.
Bisi said: “Let it be stated clearly, Governor Ademola Adeleke and the fraudulent style of governance that defined the APC era are parallel lines that will never meet.
“We therefore challenge the APC to stop the propaganda and instead present verifiable evidence, if any, to anti-corruption agencies rather than staging media callisthenics.”
Olamilekan Adigun is a graduate of Mass Communication with years of experience in journalism embedded in uncovering human interest stories. He also prioritises accuracy and factual reportage of issues.
