Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has urged payroll consultant Sally Tibbot to submit any evidence of alleged payroll irregularities directly to anti-corruption agencies, rather than discussing the matter in the media. The governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, stated that the issue is already under formal investigation and should be allowed to proceed without what he termed a “media trial.”
Rasheed’s statement, issued in Osogbo on Wednesday, was a direct response to a televised interview where Tibbot and her counsel, Jiti Ogunye, made allegations against senior state officials. He emphasized that the matter has been referred to the appropriate authorities and that any new evidence should be formally handed over to investigators. “If there is further evidence beyond the submitted reports, such materials should be handed over to the investigators,” Rasheed said, questioning why the state government was not given a right of reply during the broadcast.
The statement addressed specific criticisms of the Governor’s Chief of Staff, Kazeem Akinleye, raised by the consultant. Rasheed defended Akinleye’s role, describing him as a “gatekeeper” who ensured due process was followed during the payroll audit review. He clarified that Tibbot’s firm was engaged in January 2023, shortly after Governor Adeleke’s administration took office, to audit the payroll inherited from the previous government. “She acknowledged in her report that thousands of workers were added to the payroll under the past administration. The audited payroll reflected the situation as it existed before the current government commenced its review,” Rasheed noted.
He also raised a legal concern, alleging that the circulation of recorded telephone conversations without authorisation breaches applicable laws, and that the government is considering legal steps.
Defending the administration’s actions, Rasheed said the governor and his team acted to prevent irregular recommendations that could have impacted legitimate workers. “The Chief of Staff stood firm in defence of due process and the rule of law. The administration remains committed to transparency and accountability in the management of public resources,” he stated.
Rasheed reiterated that the ongoing investigation must be allowed to conclude, urging all parties to cooperate fully with anti-graft agencies. He concluded that the government would abide by the outcome of the probe, reinforcing its stance on procedural integrity in the handling of public sector payroll reviews in Osun State.
