JUST IN: Fresh Trouble For Adeleke As Anti-Corruption Agency Awaits Signal To Go After Him

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has initiated an investigation into an alleged fraud involving Governor Ademola Adeleke’s 332 borehole projects.

The investigation comes in response to a petition submitted by a coalition of civil society organizations in Osun state known as The Osun Masterminds (TOM) on October 31st, 2023.

The coalition, led by its executive director, Professor Wasiu Oyedokun-Alli, and Comrade Ayo Ologun, accused the governor of fraudulent awarding of contracts and blatant violation of the Osun Public Procurement Law, 2015.

During a media parley to commemorate the 2023 International Anti-Corruption Day, Demola Bakare, the Osun State Resident Commissioner of ICPC, confirmed the receipt of the petition and stated that it has been forwarded to the agency’s headquarters in Abuja. However, Bakare noted that the absence of a substantive chairman currently hinders certain actions, as matters requiring legal proceedings may be challenged if not prosecuted by the chairman.

“The petition is receiving necessary attention. Presently, we do not have the substantive chairman, and there are certain things that every other person apart from the chairman cannot do. As soon as the new chairman comes, we will look at it and direct actions,” Bakare explained.

Additionally, Bakare shared insights into the analysis of the 2023 National Capital Budget, revealing that projects worth N1.52 trillion (28.4% of capital allocations) across 150 agencies were deemed suspicious, inserted, or beyond MDAs’ mandates. A total of 1,202 projects amounting to N353.29 billion (6.60% of capital allocation) were flagged as suspicious projects.