…HEDA urged the EFCC to compel the Oyo State Government to provide a full public account of all intervention funds received,
OYO, NIGERIA- The iNews Times | The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA) has submitted a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), alleging diversion, misapplication and criminal breach of trust in the handling of the ₦30bn released by the Federal Government to the Oyo State Government after the January 2024 Bodija explosion in Ibadan.
Signed by HEDA’s Chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, and addressed to EFCC Chairman, Olanipekun Olukoyede, the petition sought clarification on the utilisation of the funds meant for victims’ compensation, reconstruction and emergency relief.
Dated January 5, 2026, the petition expressed concern that only about ₦4.5bn was reportedly spent on relief and compensation, while the bulk of the ₦30bn intervention fund remained largely unaccounted for.
“The organisation is concerned that only about ₦4.5bn intervention funds were reportedly applied to relief and compensation for victims, while the entire ₦30bn remains largely unaccounted for,” HEDA stated.
Public attention had earlier been drawn to the issue after former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, raised concerns during a television interview over the Federal Government’s release of ₦50bn to Oyo State as intervention funds for the explosion victims and the reconstruction of Old Bodija.
The Oyo State Government later confirmed receiving ₦30bn, clarifying that the funds had not been utilised pending the release of the remaining ₦20bn.
Following this disclosure, victims of the explosion called for the immediate release of the ₦30bn, describing earlier assistance as insufficient.
Reacting, the Oyo State Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Dotun Oyelade, told The iNews Times on Sunday that the government’s position remained unchanged, insisting that the ₦30bn was still untouched.
According to him, the state had already disbursed ₦4.085bn as support and compensation to victims, while spending ₦24.6bn from its own resources on Bodija and its surroundings after the incident.
Oyelade suggested that the sustained controversy over the fund may be linked to 2027 political activities, adding that the government was prepared for such developments.
“We stand solidly by our statement. It is 2026, on the eve of the 2027 general elections. We understand and we are ready,” he said.
In its petition, HEDA further questioned transparency, noting that the funds were allegedly kept in a commercial bank and accrued interest for over a year without public disclosure.
The group urged the EFCC to compel the Oyo State Government to provide a full public account of all intervention funds received, details of their utilisation and the status of any unspent balance.
HEDA argued that the allegations raise serious issues of corruption, abuse of office, diversion of public funds, criminal breach of trust and possible money laundering, all of which fall within the EFCC’s mandate.
While acknowledging the constitutional immunity enjoyed by a sitting governor under Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution, the organisation maintained that such protection does not prevent investigation, especially in matters involving public funds.
HEDA therefore called on the EFCC to conduct a comprehensive, impartial and professional probe into the receipt, management and use of all Federal Government intervention funds released to Oyo State in connection with the Bodija explosion.
