Ondo Government Redeploys OSOPADEC Secretary Amid Allegations of N463 Million Fraud

The Ondo State Government has redeployed the Secretary of the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC), Princess Abike Bayo-Ilawole, to the Ondo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) as a Permanent Secretary following allegations of financial impropriety involving over N463 million.

The redeployment was contained in a notification dated February 16, 2026, signed by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, directing Bayo-Ilawole to immediately hand over to F.A. Omomowo, the former Permanent Secretary of SUBEB.

The decision comes amid public outcry over claims that the embattled official allegedly diverted N463,063,539.82 from OSOPADEC’s capital account into private accounts, including one reportedly linked to her father and two other individuals.

Documents circulating in the public domain, including a bank statement from OSOPADEC’s capital account (No. 0066933017) domiciled with Sterling Bank Limited, allegedly revealed substantial transactions that raised concerns about the commission’s financial management.

The controversy gained traction following a leaked query issued by OSOPADEC Chairman, Prince Olabiyi Olaleye Poroye, accusing Bayo-Ilawole of authorising payments from the commission’s capital account into private accounts without following due process.

“You would recall that on the 9th of July, 2025, a memo issued from my office required that your office give explanations on why funds from the Commission’s capital account in Sterling Bank, meant for the execution of specific projects, should be paid into individual or private accounts,” the query read.

According to the chairman, the explanation that the transactions were for “direct labour” projects was insufficient and suggestive of fraud.

The payments in question allegedly included N311,270,527 to Engr. Bunmi Filani; N141,288,541.43 to Engr. Dare Oretan; and N10,504,539.87 to Mr Andrew Kolawole Ikuesan totalling N463,063,539.82.

Investigations identified Ikuesan as Bayo-Ilawole’s father, His Royal Majesty Oba Andrew Kolawole Ikuesan, the traditional ruler of Obe-Nla Kingdom in Ilaje Local Government Area.

Last week, the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) interrogated Bayo-Ilawole and two OSOPADEC directors in Akure over the alleged misappropriation.

Speaking with journalists after her session at the bureau, Bayo-Ilawole confirmed she was invited over allegations involving N463 million but denied any wrongdoing.

“I was invited by the Code of Conduct over alleged fund misappropriation. We just started the investigation. The allegation is about N463 million. I told them nothing of such happened, and the record will speak for itself,” she said.

Addressing claims that part of the funds was transferred into her father’s account, she insisted the payment was legitimate and project-related.

“The one they quoted, that money was sent to my father’s account, was for a long-term project. My father was a contractor then, and it was not up to that amount. But the record will speak for itself,” she stated.

She maintained that the funds were released in tranches for specific projects, including school renovations, transformer installations, and office refurbishments in riverine communities, adding that all procedures were followed and documentation exists.

Also speaking, the Director of Project Planning and Development at OSOPADEC, Mr Olukorede Adeshina-Oladapo, dismissed the allegations as inaccurate and driven by social media narratives.

According to him, the commission secured the governor’s approval to execute several projects through direct labour, including 21 school renovation projects, culvert construction in Atijere, and renovation of office complexes.

“We have a procurement committee. Other management staff were involved, and records of meetings were kept. We reported to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, which benchmarked the project requests,” he said, adding that a “no-objection” approval was obtained before execution.

He insisted that no funds were missing, noting that some projects had been completed while funds for others remained in the commission’s account.

Despite the gravity of the allegations, neither OSOPADEC management nor the Ondo State Government has announced any criminal investigation into the matter. Observers say the redeployment raises questions about whether the action amounts to administrative reshuffling or a substantive accountability measure.