The Secretary of the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC), Mrs. Abike Bayo-Ilawole, has explained the circumstances surrounding the transfer of commission funds into her father’s bank account, insisting that the transaction was project-related and not a case of fund diversion.
Amid allegations of fund diversion, she was appointed by governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa as the Permanent Secretary.
Mrs. Bayo-Ilawole appeared on Wednesday before the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) in Akure alongside the OSOPADEC Chairman, Mr. Biyi Poroye, and the Director of Project Planning and Development, Engr. Olubunmi Filani over allegations involving N463 million.
The officials were invited following claims that about N463 million was transferred into personal bank accounts in breach of public service regulations.
While Mr. Poroye declined comment after the investigative session, Mrs. Bayo-Ilawole denied any wrongdoing, maintaining that no funds were missing and that all disbursements were tied to duly approved projects executed across the Commission’s mandate areas.
Central to the controversy is the allegation that part of the funds under investigation was paid into her father’s account.
Addressing the issue, the Secretary explained that her father was, at the time of the transaction, engaged by OSOPADEC as a contractor handling a long-term project. She stated that the payment was contractual and linked to project execution, not a personal transfer.
“The said project was a long-term contract. The person ( my father) mentioned was a contractor at the time, and the amount paid was nowhere near what had been alleged. All records are available and will clarify the issues,” she said.
She further stated that the funds under scrutiny were released over time for multiple projects, including school renovations, transformer installations, and office refurbishments, particularly in riverine communities.
“I was invited over allegations of misappropriation of funds amounting to about N463 million. I made it clear that nothing of such happened. The record will speak for itself,” she added.
Mrs. Bayo-Ilawole also clarified that some officers named in the petition acted in supervisory capacities and may have received funds as project allowances or operational expenses connected to fieldwork.
“These projects are not executed at once; they span periods of time. Within a year, we handled school renovations, transformer installations, and office upgrades in difficult riverine terrains. Movement of personnel and logistics require structured disbursements,” she said.
She emphasized that due process was followed in all project approvals and implementation, noting that the Commission operates through a Procurement Committee and management structure with documented proceedings.
“We have a Procurement Committee comprising management staff. Projects go through due process. After approval by the governor, we approach the Office of the Due Process (ODPP) for ‘No Objection’ before implementation. As projects are completed, we request certificates of completion.
“Some of the projects under review have been completed, while others are ongoing. Some funds are still in the account pending completion stages. No money is missing, and the projects were executed for the purposes they were meant for,” she said.
In his remarks, Engr. Filani confirmed that funds were also paid into his personal account under a direct labour arrangement to facilitate the execution of 21 school renovation projects in Ilaje Local Government Area.
He explained that payments were made in tranches ranging from N2 million to N6 million to enable procurement of materials and payment of labourers in difficult-to-access communities.
“The transactions were done under direct labour arrangement. Since we controlled the spending directly, some funds were sent to my account strictly for project execution. The money did not come in bulk but in bits for specific purposes,” he said, adding that the practice was not new within the Commission, particularly in riverine areas where contractor processes may delay urgent interventions.
However, reacting to the development, the Chief Superintendent of the CCB in Ondo State, Mrs. Akingbemila, described the transfer of public funds into private accounts as a breach of the Code of Conduct for public officers.
“It is a case involving the flow of about N463 million into personal accounts, which constitutes a breach of the Code of Conduct. You do not transfer commission funds into private accounts.
“They have given their explanations, but this is a follow-up investigation. We have asked them to provide supporting documents, including bank statements and other relevant records. They are expected to return on Monday by noon,” she said.
