APC says court order will not shield Makinde from future EFCC scrutiny
By Adejayan Gbenga
The Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has alleged that Governor Seyi Makinde is attempting to prevent the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission from investigating the financial dealings of his administration.
The opposition party made the allegation in a statement issued on Thursday by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, a day after a Federal High Court in Ibadan restrained the EFCC from obtaining financial records relating to contracts awarded by the Oyo State Government from 2021 to date.
However, the APC argued that the court order should not be interpreted as a permanent obstacle to any future investigation, insisting that the ruling does not prevent anti-corruption agencies from carrying out their statutory responsibilities at the appropriate time.
According to the party, attempts to stop the EFCC from accessing government financial records raise concerns about transparency and accountability, adding that every elected official has a duty to account for the management of public funds.
Sadare stated that Governor Makinde would eventually be required to explain how state resources were utilised during his tenure, maintaining that any investigation conducted in accordance with the law should proceed without interference.
The APC also identified several projects and transactions which it claimed deserve investigation, including the exercise book printing programme, the rehabilitation of the Lekan Salami Stadium, the Ibadan Circular Road project, the renovation of the Government House, the construction of bus terminals and the upgrade of the Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport.
In addition, the party alleged irregularities involving the sale of government assets and deductions from workers’ salaries, calling for a thorough probe into the claims while reiterating that public officials must remain accountable for funds entrusted to them.
The statement comes in the wake of Wednesday’s Federal High Court ruling restraining the EFCC from obtaining the financial details of contracts awarded by the Oyo State Government from 2021 to date, a decision that has continued to generate reactions from political stakeholders across the state.
