The Human and Environmental Development Agenda has formally petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over the alleged mismanagement of N30 billion 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 addressed to EFCC Chairman Olanipekun Olukoyede, HEDA Chairman Olanrewaju Suraju raised serious concerns regarding the status of the funds, which were intended for victim compensation, reconstruction, and emergency relief.
The group stated that only about N4.5 billion had reportedly been applied toward relief and compensation, leaving the bulk of the N30 billion unaccounted for.
The controversy entered public discourse after former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose alleged during a television interview that N50 billion had been released to Oyo State. The state government later clarified it received N30 billion, which it claimed remained untouched pending the receipt of an additional N20 billion.
Victims of the explosion have since called for the release of the N30 billion, describing earlier support as inadequate. HEDA’s petition urges the EFCC to compel the Oyo State Government to provide full transparency, including a detailed account of all funds received, expenditure records, and the status of any unspent balance.
The organization maintained that the allegations involve potential corruption, abuse of office, diversion of public funds, criminal breach of trust, and possible money laundering, all within the EFCC’s mandate. While acknowledging constitutional immunity for sitting governors, HEDA stressed that immunity does not prohibit investigation into matters of public fund manamanagement.
The group has called for a thorough, impartial, and professional investigation into the receipt and utilization of all federal intervention funds related to the Bodija explosion relief effort.
