The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA) has petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged diversion, misapplication and criminal breach of trust involving the ₦30bn released by the Federal Government to the Oyo State Government following the January 2024 Bodija explosion in Ibadan.
In the petition dated January 5, 2026, and signed by HEDA Chairman, Mr Olanrewaju Suraju, the group asked the EFCC to investigate the status and utilisation of the funds meant for victims’ compensation, reconstruction and emergency relief.
HEDA expressed concern that while about ₦4.5bn was reportedly disbursed as intervention support for victims, the ₦30bn Federal Government allocation remains largely unaccounted for.
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“The organisation is concerned that only about ₦4.5bn intervention funds were reportedly applied to relief and compensation for victims, while the entire ₦30bn remains largely unaccounted for,” the petition stated.
The controversy intensified after former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, during a national television interview, alleged that the Federal Government released ₦50bn to Oyo State as intervention funds for the explosion and the reconstruction of Old Bodija.
In response, the Oyo State Government acknowledged receiving ₦30bn, clarifying that the funds had not been touched pending the release of the remaining ₦20bn. Following this disclosure, victims of the explosion demanded the immediate release of the ₦30bn, describing the compensation so far as inadequate.
But the Oyo State Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Mr Dotun Oyelade, maintained that the government’s position that the ₦30bn remained “untouched” had not changed.
He said the state had disbursed ₦4.085bn to support and compensate victims, while spending ₦24.6bn from its own resources on Bodija and its surrounding environment after the disaster.
Oyelade suggested that the renewed controversy may be linked to early 2027 election politics, adding that the government was prepared for such developments.
“We stand solidly by our statement. It’s 2026, on the eve of the 2027 general elections. We understand and we are ready,” he said.
However, HEDA raised further concerns, alleging that the ₦30bn was reportedly kept in a commercial bank at interest for over a year without public disclosure. The group called on the EFCC to compel the Oyo State Government to provide a transparent account of all intervention funds received, how they were spent, and the status of any unutilised balance.
“These allegations raise serious concerns bordering on corruption, abuse of office, diversion of public funds, criminal breach of trust and possible money laundering, all of which fall within the statutory mandate of the EFCC,” the group said.
While acknowledging the constitutional immunity granted to a sitting governor under Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution, HEDA stressed that such protection does not prevent investigation into the management of public funds.
“Constitutional immunity does not preclude investigation, particularly in issues relating to accountability and the management of public resources,” the petition added.
The group therefore urged the EFCC to conduct a thorough, impartial and professional investigation into the receipt, management and utilisation of all Federal Government intervention funds released to Oyo State in connection with the Bodija explosion.