How $20m W’Bank health fund allegedly vanished under Oyetola’s watch as Osun govt calls for EFCC probe

The Osun State Government has officially called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate former governor and current Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, over alleged misappropriation of a $20 million World Bank health grant.

In a petition dated Friday, March 7, 2025, and acknowledged by the anti-graft agency, the state government accused Oyetola of financial misconduct, money laundering, and violations of the Public Procurement Act. The grant, intended for improving Osun’s health sector, was allegedly mismanaged under his leadership.

At the heart of the allegations is the claim that Oyetola, who chaired a special Health Intervention Committee during his tenure, allocated the entire $20 million to renovate 320 primary health care centers. But according to the petition, contracts for these projects were awarded without the mandatory competitive bidding process.

Instead, the contracts allegedly went to businesses linked to Oyetola’s associates, cabinet members, and political allies; many of whom had no construction expertise. Among the named companies are Poshpreneurs Nig., reportedly owned by the children of the former Head of Service, and Dotfam Multiventures Ltd, said to be connected to the siblings of the former APC state chairman. Other firms linked to key government figures were also accused of receiving contracts despite lacking qualifications.

“These contracts were awarded to food vendors, salon operators, supermarket owners, and web designers. Companies with no experience in construction,” the petition reads. “The result was substandard work, while these businesses received full payments, leading to the misappropriation of the $20m grant.”

The allegations go further, claiming a large-scale money laundering scheme involving over ₦1.5 billion. The funds were reportedly funneled through the Osun chapter of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) between January and October 2022. Financial records show large cash withdrawals, some exceeding ₦30 million, from ALGON accounts into private accounts, with no evidence the funds were used for official projects.

Despite the gravity of the accusations, Adebayo Adeleke, the former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, also named in the petition, dismissed them as politically motivated.

“EFCC has not invited me, and I haven’t seen the petition,” he said. “If there’s no proof, then these allegations are baseless. I’ve become a thorn in the flesh of Governor Adeleke and the PDP, so I won’t be surprised by attempts to tarnish my image.”

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now