EFCC Probes N11.5 Billion Security Vote in Ondo State Budget
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has launched an investigation into the allocation of N11.5 billion as a security vote for the Ondo State Ministry of Finance in the 2025 budget.
Sources confirmed that EFCC officials have arrived in the state to scrutinize the budget details. The State Assembly leadership is expected to be summoned soon to explain the passage of the budget, particularly the controversial security vote.
Rising Concerns Over Transparency
The allocation of N11.5 billion to the finance ministry has raised concerns about transparency and accountability in Ondo State’s financial management. In addition, the ministry’s 2025 budget includes:
- N250 million for honorariums and sitting allowances.
- N1.5 billion for contingencies.
Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa had initially presented a N655 billion budget to the Ondo State House of Assembly on December 10, 2024. By the time the Assembly passed the budget and the governor signed it into law on December 30, 2024, the total amount had increased by N43.4 billion, bringing it to N698 billion.
Anti-Corruption Group Condemns Allocation
The Nigerian Anti-Corruption Network (NACN) has strongly criticized the N11.5 billion security vote, calling it an “affront to the sensibilities of Ondo State citizens.”
In a statement signed by NACN National President, Comrade Mike Aderosoye, the group questioned why a commissioner in the finance ministry—who reports to the governor—should be allocated a separate security vote when the governor already receives one.
“This raises suspicions of gross mismanagement and deliberate looting of public resources,” Aderosoye said.
He also criticized Governor Aiyedatiwa for failing to prioritize meaningful development projects.
“It is shameful that a governor who has not commissioned a single kilometre of road in the past year and has abandoned countless projects would allow his commissioner to insert such an outrageous sum into the budget for personal gain,” the statement read.
NACN has called on the EFCC to thoroughly investigate the matter and warned against any attempt to cover it up.
“We will not hesitate to seek legal action if this case is abandoned,” the group stated.
Public Outrage and EFCC’s Investigation
Many residents and civil servants in Ondo State have also criticized other allocations in the budget. Among the controversial expenditures are:
- N200 million for phone calls for all Assembly members.
- N280 million for the Speaker’s phone expenses.
- Huge sums allocated for travel and security expenses.
A senior civil servant, who spoke anonymously, described the allocation as a “misplacement of priorities”, saying the lawmakers were more focused on personal benefits than improving infrastructure in their constituencies.
An EFCC source confirmed that the commission is investigating whether such an amount has ever been allocated to the finance ministry in previous budgets.
“We are interested in understanding the purpose of this allocation and how it will be spent, especially since the governor already receives a security vote package, which is not disclosed,” the source said.
“This is not a witch hunt but a necessary step to uncover the truth,” the source added, noting that several anti-corruption bodies have also raised concerns about the matter.
Government Officials React
Efforts to reach Finance Commissioner R. S. Omowunmi Isaac for comments were unsuccessful. However, a senior official in the ministry defended the budget, stating that it had been thoroughly scrutinized and approved by the Assembly.
“The allocation was carefully reviewed before being passed. There is no reason to raise unnecessary alarm,” the official said.
Similarly, attempts to speak with Speaker Rt. Hon. Olamide Oladiji were unsuccessful. However, a lawmaker who spoke on condition of anonymity insisted that Assembly members have nothing to fear from the EFCC investigation.
“The anti-graft agency officials are not lions. We will open our books for them to scrutinize. The budget is now a public document. There’s nothing to hide,” the lawmaker stated.
Calls for Budget Review
With growing public concern, several groups are calling for a review of the 2025 budget to redirect the N11.5 billion towards critical development projects such as roads, healthcare, and education.
“This money belongs to the people of Ondo State and should be used to alleviate their suffering, not to fund dubious security votes,” NACN stated.
As the EFCC continues its investigation, all eyes remain on the Ondo State government to see how it will respond to the controversy.