General News
Lawyer petitions EFCC, seeks probe of Oyo’s N30bn Bodija explosion fund, N100bn prosperity bond
Ade Oyebode
A legal practitioner has petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate Oyo State government’s handling of public loans, bonds and budgetary expenditures between 2019 and 2026, raising concerns over a N30 billion federal intervention fund for victims of the January 2024 Bodija explosion.
The petition, filed on behalf of Mr. Akinloye Olusegun by his solicitors on October 20, asked the anti-graft agency to conduct a forensic audit of the state government’s finances and establish how funds approved for infrastructure, healthcare and other public projects were disbursed and utilised.
The lawyers specifically requested an investigation into the N30 billion Bodija explosion intervention fund, which they alleged the state government had acknowledged was domiciled in its Infrastructure Support Account with First Bank of Nigeria Plc. and remained untouched as of December 31, 2025.
They questioned why victims of the explosion were allegedly yet to see the expected reconstruction, more than a year after the funds were released, while also demanding an explanation for the reported expenditure of N24.6 billion from the state government’s own resources on infrastructure and victim support.
The petition, addressed to the EFCC chairman, was submitted pursuant to Sections 6 and 7 of the EFCC Act, 2004, and Section 15(5) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
According to the solicitors, their client, an indigene of Oyo State, wants the commission to establish whether the state government complied with public finance regulations and determine whether any public funds were mismanaged or diverted.
The petition traced the controversy to the January 16, 2024 explosion in the Bodija area of Ibadan, which it said killed two people and injured 77 others.
It stated that the Federal Government approved N50 billion for reconstruction, following the disaster, with N30bn subsequently released through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on November 4, 2024.
The solicitors cited a public statement attributed to the Oyo State Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, acknowledging that the N30 billion was held in the state government’s Infrastructure Support Account number 2045199879 with First Bank.
The petition alleged that the money remained untouched as of December 31, 2025.
It further stated that the state government claimed to have spent N24.6 billion from its own resources on the intervention, comprising N20.141 billion for infrastructure and N4.085 billion for victim support.
The lawyers asked the EFCC to verify the account balance, establish the movement of the intervention funds and audit the state government’s claims concerning expenditure on the explosion’s aftermath.
They also requested that First Bank produce the account statement and transaction history from November 4, 2024, to date, while the CBN and Federal Ministry of Finance should confirm the approval and disbursement trail of the federal intervention money.
The allegations in the petition have not been independently established.
Beyond the Bodija fund, the solicitors called for a comprehensive investigation into several loans and bond facilities allegedly obtained by the Oyo State government between 2019 and 2025.
The facilities listed in the petition include a N10 billion infrastructure loan in 2019, a N7.6 billion CBN agricultural loan for the Akufo/Eruwa Farm Settlement, a N2.5 billion health loan and a N20 billion loan facility in 2020.
The lawyers also listed a N100 billion Prosperity Bond issued in 2021/2022, allegedly linked to the Iseyin – Ogbomoso road, Ibadan Circular Road, Ibadan Airport upgrade and the Ibadan Dry Port/Rail Corridor.
Another facility identified in the petition was a N50 billion CBN Differentiated Cash Reserve Requirement (DCRR) facility captured in a 2021 supplementary budget.
The petition said the allocation comprised N25 billion for the Circular Road, N15 billion for the Iseyin – Ogbomoso road and N10 billion for the airport.
The solicitors further questioned a N200 billion bond approved in June 2025 for refinancing existing bank facilities allegedly attracting interest rates of between 22 and 26 per cent to rates of 17 to 19 per cent, with an issuance fee of 2.35 per cent.
They also listed a 55 million euro French concessional loan, estimated in the petition at about N85 billion, reportedly obtained in 2025 for the rehabilitation of health facilities, with repayment scheduled to commence under the next administration.
The lawyers urged the EFCC to verify the disbursement and utilisation of the facilities, assess compliance with the Debt Management Office’s requirements and determine whether the projects delivered value for money.
The petition also raised questions about the state’s annual budgets and supplementary appropriations from 2019 to 2026.
It listed the 2019 budget at N182 billion, the 2020 budget at N208.8 billion and the 2021 budget at N318.77 billion, including a N50 billion supplementary appropriation.
The solicitors put the 2022 budget at N294.7 billion, the 2023 budget at N352.28 billion and the 2024 budget at N517.78 billion.
For 2025, the petition listed a combined budget of approximately N984 billion, comprising N684.1 billion and a supplementary allocation of N299.8 billion.
The 2026 budget was put at approximately N1.102 trillion, comprising an initial N892.085 billion and an additional N330 billion, including a N120 billion realignment and a N210 billion supplementary budget.
The petition said the 2026 supplementary appropriation covered several projects and obligations, including the Ibadan Circular Road, Ido – Eruwa Road, Airport – Ajia – New Ife Road, Saki – Igboho Road and Apete – Awotan – Akufo Road.
Other listed items included the Ladoke Akintola Airport, Government House, debt servicing, gratuity payments and local government elections.
The solicitors asked the commission to examine the appropriations against actual releases, expenditure records and project implementation to establish whether public funds were properly accounted for.
In its prayers, the petition urged the EFCC to conduct a forensic audit of the listed loans, bonds, annual budgets and supplementary budgets.
It also asked the commission to investigate the reported N24.6 billion expenditure on the Bodija explosion intervention and determine whether any financial crime, criminal breach of trust, project cost inflation or violation of public procurement laws occurred.
The solicitors said they were prepared to provide relevant publications and supporting documents and produce their client to adopt the petition under oath.
General News
Military kills 15 terrorists in Borno air strike
Our Reporter
The Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), has recorded another operational success with the neutralisation of 15 terrorists in a precision air strike north-west of Pulka in Gwoza LGA of Borno State.
A statement by the Acting Military Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI, Captain Mohammed Goni, on Saturday, noted that the operation was conducted at about 11:50 p.m. on 23 October 2026, following credible intelligence and confirmed sightings of terrorist movements in the general area of Pulka.
According to the statement, the precision strike was subsequently followed by ground operations to exploit the area and consolidate the operational gains.
General News
Mbah urges youths to embrace acquire relevant skills
Our Reporter
The Governor of Enugu State Barr. Peter Mbah have charged the youth in Enugu State to embrace innovation, develop their knowledge, acquire relevant skills and also see themselves as participants in building the future.
Mbah disclosed this in his keynote address at the 20th anniversary of the pleasant gathering international, 2026 public symposium with theme “,Building sustainable communities through leadership, service and innovation”.
Gov Mbah represented by the Commissioner for youth and Sports Enugu State Barr Lloyd Ekweremmadu, emphasized that Enugu State government recognized that a sustainable development must be given to the youth, that is why the administration invested in schools, teachers, technology and experiential learning.
He pointed that the most general infrastructure any society can build is in human capacity of his people. According to him “The New experiential learning that is been put in place is to ensure that young people are not just embarking on having certificate but learning in a way that they will be impactful in the society.
“Education in Enugu today, is to help the young ones to think, create, innovate, solve problems and be productive to the society. Our aspirations must be to raise a generation of young people who are not merely consumers of what others created, but who possesses confidence and knowledge to create solutions in a world that we live.
“Our young ones should not be treated merely as beneficiaries, waiting for government or societies to provide opportunities for them. They should be recognized as products of development, innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders in their world,” he said.
He however encourage the convener of pleasant gathering international to remain committed to young people, continue building partnership and translate their vision into measurable impact.
A federal high court Justice in Enugu State, Hon Justice Mabel Seun-Bello speaking on “leadership, accountability and transparency” advice youth to first of all discover their potentials and develop it.
She encouraged them to have confidence in their potentials, saying that confidence breeds competent. She noted that leadership means someone building himself or herself. According to her. “A leader cannot build others when he or she is not built. You cannot build institutions, when you are not contended to be built. You cannot transform organisation, if you are unwilling to be transformed.
“Personal success breeds public success. For someone to succeed in life, it requires personal transitions, which includes, identifying your potentials, personal success, by focusing in building that potentials you have discovered, specialisation on your potentials and purposeful impact.
The president of the Pleasant gathering international, Barr Joy Ogbonnaya earlier in an interview with Journalists said that her passion as the convener of pleasant gathering international is to impact and bring massive transformation among the youth and they have not failed. It is seen in the life of the youth in the state and beyond.
According to her, “Pleasant gathering international is an international partnership organization in consultative statutory with the United Nations. In this 20th anniversary, the public symposium is aimed at building community leadership, services and innovation. Which is actually what has kept us in the view.
“If we are able to raise youths who are fully focused with purpose, then we are getting closer to have a better leadership, if not the best,” she said. However she called on individuals, government, health professionals, employers, training institutions and donors to support, heip and shape the young ones and the communities.
General News
Induction: IG suspends training of reinstated officers
Our Reporter
The Inspector-General of Police has ordered the immediate suspension of the ongoing six-month induction course for reinstated senior police officers following a ruling by the National Industrial Court.
The directive, contained in a police wireless message dated September 25, 2026, a copy of which was obtained by our correspondent on Friday, ordered the affected officers to vacate the training premises at the Police Staff College, Jos, with their personal effects.
The message, addressed to the Police Staff College, Jos, and the National Institute of Police Studies in Abuja, and copied to the office of the Inspector-General of Police, stated that the suspension was in compliance with a recent court judgment.
“INGENPOL directs you to temporarily suspend ongoing six-month induction course for reinstated senior officers,” the message partly read.
“All course participants to vacate premises with their personal effects with immediate effect.”
The order followed a ruling delivered by Justice Buhari Sani of the National Industrial Court, Abuja, on September 28, 2026, in suit number NICN/KN/51/2026, filed by the Advocacy for Human Rights and Cultural Values for Development Initiatives against the Inspector-General of Police and five others.
In the ruling, obtained by our correspondent on Friday, the court set aside an ex parte order it had granted on September 22, which restrained the police authorities and the Police Service Commission from implementing the reinstatement of Cadet Assistant Superintendents of Police from Courses 18, 19 and 20.
The court also struck out the motion ex parte dated September 18, describing it as lacking merit and constituting an abuse of court process.
Justice Sani said the earlier order was granted on a “misapprehension of the true state of affairs” and following the applicant’s failure to disclose material facts concerning an existing judgment on the reinstatement of the officers.
The judge explained that the decision being challenged was not merely an administrative action but the subject of a subsisting judgment of the National Industrial Court in suit number NICN/ABJ/28/2025, which had been affirmed by the Court of Appeal.
“The presence of a subsisting judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction fundamentally alters the legal landscape,” the judge held.
He added that where a decision being challenged was the execution of a valid and subsisting judgment, the court could not restrain its implementation as though it were an unlawful administrative act.
“The real urgency contemplated by law was therefore absent,” the judge said, adding that the applicant had failed to establish that the subject matter of the suit was at risk of destruction.
The court further held that the applicant was under an obligation to make full and frank disclosure of all relevant facts when seeking an ex parte order.
“The failure of the applicant to disclose the existence of the judgment in Suit No. NICN/ABJ/28/2025 and its affirmation by the Court of Appeal is a material non-disclosure that strikes at the heart of the ex parte order,” the judge ruled.
The reinstatement of the affected officers followed an earlier judgment concerning the regularisation of their dates of first appointment and the application of Section 18(8) of the Police Act, 2020, which addresses the maximum years of service and retirement age of police personnel.
In a letter dated July 31, 2026, the Force Secretary, Assistant Inspector-General of Police Bode Akinbamilowo, conveyed the Police Service Commission’s decision on the regularisation of the dates of first appointment of Assistant Superintendents of Police and inspectors who entered the Force through the cadet system.
The letter stated that the affected officers had previously been retired following a Police Service Commission decision in January 2025 but had their retirements reversed in compliance with the National Industrial Court’s judgment in suit number NICN/ABJ/28/2025.
The Inspector-General subsequently directed the affected officers to report to the Police Staff College, Jos, for a six-month induction course.
The list of affected officers attached to the July 31, 2026, letter included Assistant Inspector-General of Police Owohunwa Idowu and AIG Benneth Chinedu Igwe, both of Cadet ASP Course 19 of 1996, as well as Deputy Commissioner of Police Simon Asamber Lough of Course 20 of 2000.
The officers were among those previously retired but reinstated following the judgment of the National Industrial Court in suit number NICN/ABJ/28/2025.
According to the annexure, Owohunwa was born on July 20, 1970, and appointed into the Force on August 15, 1996, while Igwe was born on October 7, 1968, and appointed on the same date.
Lough was born on May 14, 1969, and appointed on May 1, 2000. The document listed their retirement dates by age and length of service, respectively, as July 20, 2030, and August 15, 2031, for Owohunwa; October 7, 2028, and August 15, 2031, for Igwe; and May 14, 2029, and May 1, 2035, for Lough.
-
General News2 weeks agoRivers 2027: We are not part of Rainbow Coalition – APC Legacy Group slams Wike, Fubara meeting
-
General News1 month ago
JOHESU demands: MHWUN puts FG on notice over fresh action
-
Politics1 month ago2027: ASAF backs APC governors, rejects rainbow coalition
-
Politics2 months agoYou have demonstrated diligence, loyalty, statesmanship in leadership, Ekechi salutes Shetimma at 60
-
Politics2 months ago2027: Advertising experts raise concerns over irregular regulation of sector
-
FCT News2 months ago
2027: Hasana-Moneme pledges skills, empowerment, credit access for FCT women
-
General News3 months ago
2027: Dame Princess Esom-Nwafor Orizu confirmed as APC flagbearer for Nnewi North /South /Ekwusigo Federal Constituency as INEC releases names of candidates
-
Uncategorized4 months ago
Rescue of Oyo schoolchilden: Tinubu commends security agencies, says action breakthrough in fight against criminality
