The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA) has filed a petition with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) regarding the alleged misappropriation and misuse of 30 billion naira that the federal government released to the state of Oyo following the Bodija explosion in Ibadan in January 2024.
The petition, signed by HEDA President Olanrewaju Suraju and addressed to EFCC President Olanipekun Olukoyede, questions the use of funds intended for victim compensation, reconstruction, and emergency relief after the explosion.
In this petition, dated January 5, 2026, HEDA expresses its concern that while approximately 4.5 billion naira have reportedly been allocated for aid and compensation, the whereabouts of the majority of the 30 billion naira emergency relief funds remain unclear.
The organization emphasizes that the lack of transparency and communication regarding the status and use of the funds raises serious questions about transparency and accountability.
The public controversy surrounding these funds intensified after a former governor expressed concerns in a television interview about alleged 50 billion naira in federal aid for the victims of the explosion and the reconstruction of Old Bodija.
The Oyo State government subsequently confirmed receiving 30 billion naira from the federal government but stated that these funds had not yet been used because another 20 billion naira was still outstanding.
Following these revelations, the explosion victims demanded the release of the remaining 30 billion naira to supplement the aid they had already received, which they considered insufficient.
The Oyo State Minister of Information and Education, Dotun Oyelade, responded that the government’s position—that the 30 billion naira had not yet been used—remained unchanged.
He added that the state government had already disbursed approximately 4.085 billion naira in aid and compensation to victims following the disaster and had allocated 24.6 billion naira of its own funds for reconstruction in Bodija and the surrounding area.
Oyelade described the renewed public debate about these funds as politically motivated, claiming the government was preparing for criticism ahead of the 2027 general elections.
HEDA, on the other hand, argued that the funds had allegedly been held in a bank account for over a year without public disclosure and called for an investigation.
The organization appealed to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to compel the Oyo state government to provide a transparent accounting of all federal funds received, their use, and the whereabouts of any unspent funds.
HEDA added that these allegations raise concerns about corruption, abuse of power, misappropriation of public funds, breach of trust, and money laundering—crimes that fall under the jurisdiction of the EFCC.
While acknowledging that constitutional immunity protects a sitting governor from prosecution, HEDA emphasized that this immunity does not preclude investigations, particularly in cases involving public funds.
The group therefore called on the EFCC to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation into the receipt, management, and use of all federal intervention funds provided to Oyo State in connection with the Bodija explosion.
A court in Ibadan, Oyo State, has issued a preliminary injunction against the Oyo State Government and its representatives. The injunction prohibits them from interfering with a property located on Queen Elizabeth Road in the Agodi Residential Area (GRA) of Ibadan until a pending court case is resolved. Judge K.A. Adedokun issued the injunction on June 30, 2025, at the request of KAL Asset Management Ltd., against the Oyo State […]
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