𝗢𝗡𝗗𝗢: 𝗢𝗦𝗢𝗣𝗔𝗗𝗘𝗖 𝗦𝗘𝗖𝗥𝗘𝗧𝗔𝗥𝗬 𝗙𝗜𝗥𝗘𝗦 𝗕𝗔𝗖𝗞, 𝗗𝗜𝗦𝗠𝗜𝗦𝗦𝗘𝗦 #463𝗠 𝗗𝗜𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗘𝗚𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗔𝗦 "𝗪𝗜𝗖𝗞𝗘𝗗 𝗟𝗜𝗘," 𝗩𝗢𝗪𝗦 𝗟𝗘𝗚𝗔𝗟 𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗔𝗚𝗔𝗜𝗡𝗦𝗧 𝗕𝗟𝗔𝗖𝗞𝗠𝗔𝗜𝗟𝗘𝗥𝗦.

𝗢𝗡𝗗𝗢: 𝗢𝗦𝗢𝗣𝗔𝗗𝗘𝗖 𝗦𝗘𝗖𝗥𝗘𝗧𝗔𝗥𝗬 𝗙𝗜𝗥𝗘𝗦 𝗕𝗔𝗖𝗞, 𝗗𝗜𝗦𝗠𝗜𝗦𝗦𝗘𝗦 #463𝗠 𝗗𝗜𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗘𝗚𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗔𝗦 "𝗪𝗜𝗖𝗞𝗘𝗗 𝗟𝗜𝗘," 𝗩𝗢𝗪𝗦 𝗟𝗘𝗚𝗔𝗟 𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗔𝗚𝗔𝗜𝗡𝗦𝗧 𝗕𝗟𝗔𝗖𝗞𝗠𝗔𝗜𝗟𝗘𝗥𝗦.

𝗕𝗬 𝗡𝗜𝗚𝗘𝗥𝗗𝗘𝗟𝗧𝗔 𝗩𝗢𝗜𝗖𝗘,

𝗢𝗻𝗱𝗼 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁,

6𝘁𝗵 𝗙𝗲𝗯. 2026

The Secretary of the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC), Princess Abike Bayo-Ilawole, has issued a strong and defiant rebuttal to reports alleging she diverted over ₦463 million from the Commission’s project account into private accounts, including that of her father and two staff members.

The allegation, which has been widely circulated across some media platforms, followed the leakage of documents said to contain a query issued by the OSOPADEC Chairman, Prince Olabiyi Olaleye Poroye, accusing the Secretary of financial misconduct.

According to the leaked query, the sum of ₦463,063,539.82 was allegedly transferred to the accounts of the following individuals:

Engr. Bunmi Filani – ₦311,270,527.00

Engr. Dare Oretan – ₦141,288,541.43

Mr. Andrew Kolawole Ikuesan – ₦10,504,539.87

Total – ₦463,063,539.82

The report further claimed that OSOPADEC workers released a bank statement from the Commission’s capital account (0066933017) domiciled at Sterling Bank Limited, allegedly issued and signed by a branch head in Marina, Lagos, in August 2025, showing suspicious inflows and outflows.

However, reacting on Thursday, Princess Bayo-Ilawole described the reports as reckless, malicious and deliberately orchestrated to destroy her reputation, insisting that she would not be bullied into responding to “fabricated propaganda.”

In a statement made available to journalists, the OSOPADEC Secretary angrily dismissed the allegation of misappropriating “₦400 million or any amount whatsoever,” warning that those behind the such media publications will soon face the full weight of the law.

“Let me make it clear to the whole world—this allegation is a wicked lie and a desperate attempt to smear my name,” she declared.

“By virtue of my position as the most senior civil servant involved in OSOPADEC activities, I find it completely improper and shameful to descend into media propaganda, conjecture and malicious publications that are clearly far from the truth.”

She stated that she would not join issues with “faceless accusers” in the media, stressing that she remains committed to the rules guiding the Commission’s operations.

“I will continue to strictly adhere to the procedures and regulatory framework laid down by the Government of Ondo State in the discharge of my duties.”

“I will not, under any circumstance, compromise the law guiding the operations of this Commission.”

Princess Bayo-Ilawole further condemned what she described as a “trial by media,” insisting that the proper channel for grievances remains official investigation and due process, not what she called “blackmail journalism.”

“Anyone with a genuine grievance or contrary position should approach the lawful authorities and follow due process, not engage in dirty media ambush and coordinated character assassination,” she said.

She maintained that she would not be distracted by the scandalous publication, describing it as an attempt to destabilise the Commission and divert attention from its mandate.

“My resolve remains firm. I will act within the confines of the law. I will stand by the Government of Ondo State. I will not be dragged into distractions or public exchanges over baseless allegations.”

In a final hard-hitting remark, the OSOPADEC Secretary declared she would never destroy her career over money, describing the insinuation as insulting and laughable.

“I will not compromise my career for any pot of porridge in any manner.

I will ensure that this Commission faithfully achieves the purpose for which it was established. That is my position, and I stand by it,” she concluded.

The alleged scandal has continued to generate reactions, with calls from stakeholders urging OSOPADEC to address the controversy transparently to protect public confidence in the Commission’s handling of development funds meant for oil-producing communities in Ondo State.