…Govt, ALGON deny claims
By: Sunday Ameh
A civic organization, the Ondo Redemption Front (ORF), has petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), calling for a probe into alleged diversion and mismanagement of local government funds in Ondo State.
In the two separate petitions signed by A.O. Ajulo, Esq., Secretary of the group, the ORF accused the Ondo State Ministry of Finance and the Office of the Accountant-General of violating the Constitution and the July 2024 Supreme Court judgment which directed that allocations from the Federation Account be paid directly to local councils.
The group alleged that despite billions released monthly by the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), most local councils in the state receive only a fraction of their due allocations.
Citing the August 2025 FAAC report, the petition listed allocations of ₦742.6 million to Akure South, ₦681.5 million to Ilaje, ₦607.6 million to Akoko South East, ₦564.6 million to Akoko North East, and ₦515.6 million to Ifedore, among others.
According to the group, “there is a wide gap between what is officially released and what councils actually receive.”
“The Ondo State Government, through its Ministry of Finance and the Office of the Accountant-General, has continued to act in violation of the Supreme Court directive by intercepting and diverting Local Government funds,” the petition alleged.
The group urged the anti-graft agencies to conduct a forensic audit of the State Joint Local Government Account (SJLA), review inflows and outflows over the last two years, and compare them with projects executed at the grassroots.
In a separate petition, the ORF also called for an investigation into the management of federal allocations and internally generated revenue (IGR) by the state government between January and August 2025.
The group cited data from credible fiscal monitoring organizations such as BudgIT and the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, which showed that Ondo State received over ₦127 billion during the period — ₦109.6 billion between January and July, and ₦17.79 billion in August alone.
“The people of Ondo State are entitled to know how more than ₦127 billion of public funds, excluding IGR, have been managed or expended within less than a year,” the petition stated.
It urged both anti-graft agencies to ensure transparency and accountability in the state’s financial management.
Govt, ALGON deny allegations
Reacting, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Amidu Takuro, dismissed the allegations as politically motivated, insisting that the state government had maintained transparency in the disbursement of council funds.
“The councils have collectively saved ₦15 billion in a joint account to finance capital projects. This is proof that we are planning beyond recurrent expenses,” Takuro said.
He added that over ₦12 billion had been paid as gratuities to local government retirees through consistent savings and agreements reached at the Joint Account Allocation Committee (JAAC) meetings.
Similarly, the Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Ondo State Chapter, Hon. Donald Fasua, described the claims as “baseless,” saying that all local government chairmen are fully in control of their finances.
“It is not true. The governor is not diverting our funds. Since we assumed office, we have embarked on development projects across our LGAs. The facts speak for themselves,” Fasua stated.
He cited ongoing projects in Akure South, including road construction and the purchase of vehicles for council use, as evidence of financial independence.
The ORF, however, maintained that its petitions were filed in the public interest, stressing that transparency and accountability are fundamental to good governance.
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