By Ayodele Oni

Osun State Government has challenged those, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, alleging an N11billion  diversion of Ecological funds to produce documentary evidence.

Speaking on Channels TV, the State Commissioner for Information, Kolapo Alimi denied claims by the all Progressives Congress ( APC) chieftains and anti-graft investigators that N11 billion in Ecological Funds was diverted into suspicious accounts by the Governor Ademola Adeleke administration.

Alimi insisted that critics should produce concrete documentary proof of the alleged transaction while sharply accusing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of political bias.

He claimed the agency swiftly acts on APC petitions while ignoring documented money laundering complaints filed by the state against former APC officials.

“The same EFCC to which the state government submitted petitions since 2025 regarding cash withdrawals over N1.6 billion against the Minister of Marine Economy, has closed its eyes to that petition. But whenever the APC submits any paper, they start working on it immediately.”

Alimi stated emphatically that no N11 billion Ecological Fund allocation reached state coffers only to be routed to suspicious private or corporate accounts, demanding that accusers back their claims with bank statements.

He pointed out that since direct federal allocations to local governments began in February 2025, the state government lost access to council funds, leaving local governments directly responsible for primary school teachers, council staff salaries, and local pensioners.

Alimi explained that with local government liabilities absorbing approximately N6.5 billion monthly from state interventions previously, the state budget operates under tight margins with no surplus funds left to mismanage.

“No such money was received for it to be transferred anywhere. I challenge them: please come out with the reason and back it up with evidence.”

Addressing ongoing investigations, Alimi criticized the anti-graft agency’s responsiveness, alleging an imbalance in how complaints from opposing political camps are handled.

He argued that while Osun officials (including the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Finance) routinely honor EFCC invitations, the agency acts with unprecedented speed whenever the APC submits papers against the Adeleke administration.

Alimi questioned the legal basis of freezing state accounts without a valid court order, describing it as an erroneous step that undermines state governance.

By Ayodele Oni

Rising above partisan politics, and putting his feet down as President fir all, President Bola Tinubu has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to vacate the court order which it obtained to freeze the account of Osun state government.

The EFCC, on Wednesday, in an unprecedented move that shocked not a few, froze Osun State Government’s accounts on reasons not quite understood by many.

But in a statement on Thursday personally signed by the president An embarrassed President Tinubu distanced himself from the EFCC action, and ordered in an unprecedented manner, that the the accounts be immediately unfrozen.

The statement reads:

“It has come to my notice that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) obtained a court order on August 5, 2026, freezing the accounts of the Osun State Government.

“I must state that I feel deeply embarrassed not by the EFCC’s exercise of its mandate backed by a court order, but by the timing of the agency’s action.

”This is so because every action taken by an institution of State, especially at the Federal level, is always credited to me, as the President, even when I may not have had any prior knowledge of the action.

“Since assuming office, I have consistently maintained that anti-corruption and law enforcement agencies must be allowed to discharge their statutory responsibilities independently, professionally, without fear or favour, or political interference.

“I have, therefore, deliberately refrained from directing or interfering in the operational activities of the EFCC or any other investigative or prosecutorial agency because I firmly believe that strong democratic institutions, operating within the confines of the law, are indispensable to democratic good governance and the rule of law.

“As President, I am committed to allowing institutions of State to function and take any action they consider necessary in the interest of proper governance without the need for any prior approval.

“Indeed, that is why institutions are set up by law with clearly defined powers.   While I am yet to be fully appraised of the facts which informed the action of EFCC in approaching the court to obtain the said order freezing the Osun State Government account, I am not in the slightest doubt that the timing of the action of EFCC is inauspicious, and therefore I feel compelled to intervene.

“Osun State is only a few days away from its gubernatorial election. Therefore, nothing ought to be done to give an impression that the EFCC or indeed any other agency of the federal government is being used to interfere with the election.

“Based on the foregoing premise, I am duty-bound to issue a directive on this issue in consonance with the overriding public interest in preserving public confidence and the integrity, credibility, and fairness of our democratic process.

“Accordingly, I have directed the EFCC to immediately proceed to the court to vacate the order and discontinue whatever action it has instituted against the Osun State Government in this regard.”

By Ayodele Oni 

To the Afrobeats star, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, Osun state must remain peaceful, no matter individual ambitions in the August 15 governorship election in the State.

He appealed to candidates in the Osun State governorship election to respect the will of the electorate and ensure the poll is conducted peacefully.

Speaking at a press conference in Osogbo, Davido, who is Governor Ademola Adeleke’s nephew, said no political ambition should be allowed to endanger lives or destabilise the state.

He urged political leaders and their supporters to avoid actions capable of heightening tension before, during and after the election, while encouraging eligible voters to turn out peacefully and exercise their civic rights.

“Dear contestants in the Osun State governorship election, this is your opportunity to seek the mandate of the people, but political opportunities come and go. 

“Whatever the outcome, please do not allow political ambition to put the lives and future of Osun people at risk.

“I appeal to you, your supporters and your party structures to allow the people to come out freely and peacefully to vote for the candidate of their choice.

“If they choose you, let your victory come through their votes. If they choose someone else, let their decision be respected,” he said.

Davido also urged residents not to be intimidated, stressing that every vote should count.

“I understand the tension and emotions surrounding this election, but I urge everyone to remain calm. No political ambition, disagreement or election is worth the life of any Osun son or daughter. Let us reject violence, intimidation, provocation and destruction.

“To every eligible voter in Osun, come out and exercise your right to vote. Do not be afraid or intimidated. Your vote is your voice, and your choice must be respected,” he added.

The singer also appealed to the Chairman of the APC National Campaign Council and Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, to promote peaceful and credible elections.

He said he had heard reports alleging possible interference in the election but clarified that he was not presenting the claims as established facts.

“To our daddy from Imo State, I say this with respect. I have heard rumours suggesting there are moves to interfere in the Osun election or use the state as a political battleground to prove a point.

” I do not present these claims as facts, but I appeal to you to use your influence to promote peace and allow the people of Osun to choose their candidate freely.

“We have mutual connections, and I have a deep personal connection to Imo State because my wife, Chioma, is from the state. Please, let Osun remain peaceful, allow democracy to take its course and let the people decide,” he said.

Davido further called on residents to maintain peace regardless of the election outcome.

“Politics is temporary, but Osun will remain. No political victory is worth violence, destruction or the loss of a single life.

“To everyone in Osun, please come out, vote peacefully, reject intimidation and let your voice be heard.

“Osun is ours, the future is ours, and let peace lead the way,” he said.