The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has commenced investigation against the chairman of Oluyole Local Government Area, Oyo State, Engineer Akeem Olatunji, over alleged financial sleaze.
He was alleged, in a petition to the EFCC, of mismanagement of internally generated revenue (IGR) of the local government area and abuse of office, among other offences.
It was learnt that Olatunji, a former state secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), alongside his Chief of Staff (CoS), Mr. Azeez Babalola, was recently invited for questioning at the Ibadan Office of the anti-graft agency.
A concerned indigene submitted a petition to the EFCC,(EFCC/PET/HQR/4247/2025), alleging gross financial irregularities, diversion of public funds, procurement violations, and unlawful land transactions between May 2024 and July 2025.
The petitioner alleged other offences, including excessive spending on security without proper justification and disbursement of staff palliatives, despite already receiving the 13th-month salary, as approved by the Governor ‘Seyi Makinde-led administration for workers in the state.
Other allegations, being investigated by the EFCC, included questionable land transaction at Odo-Ona Kekere with suspicious payments, allegedly into the bank account of Babalola;
Unapproved expenditure on party/ Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, (NULGE) Day Celebration, which was described as a clear violation of the guidelines for usage of public funds.
The Oyo State House of Assembly was reported to have had previously received petitions against the local government chairman, but no tangible actions were taken.
Sources claim Olatunji bragged about his connections, allegedly saying “there’s nothing EFCC could do to him” during a security meeting, showcasing a pattern of impunity.
Residents demand accountability, urging the EFCC to ensure proper investigation and take necessary actions to recover the alleged misappropriated funds, while ensuring transparency in governance in the state.
In July 2025, a petition was submitted against Olatunji alleging all kinds of atrocities and abnormalities happening in Oluyole Local Government Area, under his watch.
The petition principally addressed to the Office of the Commissioner, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftancy Matters in the State, was signed by six persons led by the former leader of the House in the local government area, Hon. Akanni Taiwo Isaiah.
Copied in that petition were the Oyo State Anti-Corruption Agency (OYACA); Oyo State PDP Secretariat, Molete, Ibadan and the Oyo State House of Assembly (OYSHA).
Others copied in the petition included the Oyo State Ministry of Justice; Office of the Governor, Oyo State; Office of the Secretary to the State Governor;
The Department of Security Service (DSS); Office the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Oyo State; the Nigerian Police and the Office of the Accountant General, Oyo State.
The petitioners claimed: “Despite all efforts and interventions of well- meaning personalities and party big wigs, Akeem Olatunji continue to run the affair of the council as his personal estates.
“It is essential to officially inform your ministry about some of the wrongdoings of the council boss, so as to call him to order and save the face of the party in this critical political situation.”
They also alleged that Olatunji, as the chairman, was using some of the staff members of the ministry as an instrument of division and distabilisation in Oluyole Local Government Area.
However, till date, findings revealed authorities in Oyo State seemed to have not taken any concrete investigative actions on the July 2025 petition.
The foot-dragging ostensibly necessitated the latest petition filed before the EFCC, upon which the Oyo State Office of the anti-graft agency recently invited Olatunji for questioning on the alleged misuse of office as contained in the petition.
Efforts to get across to the chairman of Oluyole Local Government Area to state his own side of the story has been abortive.
When he was called on Wednesday, 14 January, 2026, he promised to arrange for a meeting the following day to make clarification in respect of the allegations contained in the petition.
He didn’t honour the date and, ever since, he has not made himself available, giving excuses of being busy or attending meetings.
Text messages were also sent to his phone number on Saturday, 17 January, but he neither acknowledged receipt of the text messages, nor responded to the allegations, till the time of going to the press.
