OSUN PAYROLL FRAUD CASE: STATE GOVT DIRECTS CONSULTANT TO FACE ANTI-GRAFT INVESTIGATORS
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By: Fasasi Hammad
Osun State Governor has urged payroll consultant Sally Tibbot to submit any evidence in her possession to the anti-graft agencies investigating alleged irregularities in the state’s payroll review process.
In a statement released on Wednesday in Osogbo, Governor Ademola Adeleke’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, emphasized that the ongoing investigations by relevant authorities should proceed without being influenced by what he described as a media trial.
Rasheed was responding to a recent television interview granted by the consultant and her lawyer, Jiti Ogunye, during which allegations were made against senior state government officials. He stated that the matter had already been referred to anti-corruption agencies and that any additional information should be formally submitted to investigators rather than aired publicly.
He also questioned why the state government was not given an opportunity for a right of reply during the broadcast.
“The issues raised are currently before the appropriate anti-graft agencies. If there is further evidence beyond the submitted reports, such materials should be handed over to the investigators,” Rasheed said.
The statement addressed repeated references to the Governor’s Chief of Staff, Kazeem Akinleye, whose conduct the consultant had publicly criticised. Rasheed maintained that the Chief of Staff acted within his official responsibilities during the payroll audit review, serving as a gatekeeper to ensure due process.
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He noted that the consultant’s firm was engaged in January 2023, shortly after the current administration assumed office, and clarified that the audit report concerned payroll inherited from the previous government.
“She acknowledged in her report that thousands of workers were added to the payroll under the past administration. The audited payroll reflected the situation as it existed before the current government commenced its review,” Rasheed explained.
The spokesperson also alleged that the unauthorized circulation of recorded telephone conversations breached applicable laws and stated that legal action was being considered.
Defending the administration, Rasheed said the governor and his team acted to prevent irregular recommendations that could have negatively impacted legitimate workers.
“The Chief of Staff stood firm in defence of due process and the rule of law. The administration remains committed to transparency and accountability in the management of public resources,” he said.
He reiterated that the investigation is ongoing, urging all parties to cooperate fully with anti-graft agencies and confirming that the government will respect the outcome of the probe.
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