The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed a petition by the state government under Governor Ademola Adeleke, which accuses former Governor Gboyega Oyetola of mismanaging World Bank health funds allocated for the Save One Million Lives (SOML) programme.
APC spokesperson Mogaji Olabisi made this statement at a press conference in Abuja on Sunday, following the Osun State government’s formal petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), requesting an investigation into Oyetola—now Minister of Blue Economy—over the alleged misappropriation of a $20 million World Bank grant.
Olabisi refuted the allegations, insisting that the SOML project was successfully executed to enhance healthcare services in the state.
“SOML is a World Bank project designed to save the lives of mothers and children through health services.
The funds received by the Osun State government were comprehensively monitored by the donor,” he stated.
He further argued that records, including documented evidence of facilities and programs funded through the grant, prove Oyetola’s commitment to transparency and good governance.
“Not only were the funds used to improve healthcare in the state, but all contract awards followed the relevant procurement laws.
We boldly state that no commissioner, adviser, or appointee of former Governor Oyetola was awarded contracts while serving in his government,” Olabisi added.
The APC also accused Adeleke’s administration of financial mismanagement, alleging that the current government has awarded contracts to relatives and misappropriated state funds.
“N40 billion from the local government allocation was used to fund the Office of the Governor, including N11 billion for the purchase of luxury cars for unproductive politicians and over N5 billion to renovate the governor’s lodges—a contract awarded to his son-in-law, who only visited three times to supervise the project from his base in the United States.
“All this while allocations to key sectors such as health, education, and sports remain insufficient and unavailable,” he said.
The state government has yet to respond to these allegations.
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