Damming Evidence On Ogun/Osun River Basin Scandal—-The Alleged Yayi Unholy Connection
In a shocking revelation, the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority (OORBDA) scandal has laid bare the depths of corruption and impunity in Nigeria’s public sector. The agency, tasked with harnessing the potential of Nigeria’s water resources for agricultural development and water management, has instead become a conduit for siphoning public funds. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) investigations have exposed a tangled web of corruption, bid rigging, and procurement irregularities that have left the agency crippled and its mandate compromised. The litany of corruption is staggering, with allegations of inflated contracts, substandard jobs, and payment for undone work. The agency’s leadership has allegedly prioritized personal gain over its core mandate, using tactics such as divide and rule, and settling loyal officials
Although, OORBDA has remained a hot bed of dirty deals and miserable performance since established in 1976/1977 by the Federal Government of Nigeria to manage water resources for agriculture and development in Ogun, Osun, Oyo, and Lagos States , Senator Soloman Olamilekan Adeola, Mr Olufemi Odumosu , Dr. Adedeji Ashiru, and Dr. Adebowale Adedokun are the four high-profile figures embroiled in the current scandal rocking this agency.
The stench of corruption emanating from the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority (OORBDA) is overwhelming, with Senator Soloman Olamilekan Adeola’s alleged dirty deals taking center stage. The senator’s alleged insatiable greed, coupled with the avarice of former MD Odumosu and incumbent MD/CEO Deji Ashiru, has left the agency a shadow of its former self, plundered to the bone marrow. Even Dr. Adebowale Adedokun, the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement ,is not believed to be a saint as well , the allegation against him is purely that of complicity driven by bribery
How Lawmakers’ Funds Fuelled OORBDA’s Corruption
The Ogun-Oshun River Basin Development Authority has long been synonymous with corruption, but things took a turn for the worse in 2024 under its former MD/CEO Olufemi Odumosu and Dr Deji Ashiru , the incumbent CEO . With the influx of federal lawmakers’ constituency project funds, the agency’s corruption has skyrocketed, becoming a full-blown scandal. It’s as if the additional funds were a green light for mismanagement and graft, with officials allegedly exploiting the system to feed their own interests. The result is a litany of failed projects, inflated contracts, and a trail of unfulfilled promises, leaving the people of Ogun ,Lagos ,Oyo and Osun States to wonder when they’ll see the benefits of their own development. The rot goes deep, and it’s time for accountability
According to some insiders the modus operandi for getting additional funds for the agency was to go to the federal lawmakers to lobby for funds. :” When they inaugurated the National Assembly, it happened that the chairman of the Appropriation Committee was from our South West zone, and our MDA reached out to him for assistance, and he promised to give us more money since the River Basin Development Authority is from his geographical area. So, the allocation increased from something like N5b to something like N24b,” an Executive Director, Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority, declared
Their Tricks
“Instead of voting money into uncomplicated projects, they opened up new ones to grab their portion from the allocation, that’s why they have abandoned projects everywhere. Though we tried as much as possible to correct this mess or tendency, but since only the CEO could determine what to be done, we remained very helpless. We have only advisory power; we are limited.”, one of the ex-executive directors lamented. The Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority (OORBDA) had promised much, but delivered little. Instead, the agency has abandoned core projects, leaving behind a trail of broken dreams and unfulfilled promises. The Agbado-Isoye Water Scheme, meant to quench the thirst of parched communities, lies incomplete. The Igbojaye Earth Dam, designed to tame the raging waters and bring irrigation to arid lands, gathers dust. The Asa Earth Dam, a vital project for flood control, is another example of OORBDA’s abandonment. Communities like Ijeja, Oke-Oko, Adiyan, and Orudu-Agira in Ogun State, Igbojaye and Iwofin in Oyo State, are left to suffer the consequences.
The neglect is not just a matter of unfinished projects; it’s a betrayal of trust. The people of these communities had welcomed OORBDA with open arms, expecting development and progress. Instead, they got abandonment and neglect. Farmlands are damaged, infrastructure is crumbling, and basic amenities are lacking. The impact is felt by all, from farmers struggling to eke out a living to children without access to clean water
One of the most egregious tactics employed by the agency’s leadership is the recycling of projects. The agency’s books reveal a shocking pattern of corruption, with recurring projects being budgeted for since 2014, and significant funds allocated: ₦140 million in 2017, ₦135 million in 2016, and ₦90 million in 2015.
Another tactic used by OORBDA’s leadership is paying for undone jobs. This involves paying contractors for work that was never done, with the agency’s officials and their cronies pocketing the funds. .One of the executive gave us a vivid account of how Ashiru and him nearly boxed each other in his over his move to make him sign files of undone jobs . “They brought some files for me to sign, thinking I’m that gullible; they forgot I’m mobile. When I drove to the sites, I discovered nothing was done. I said I wasn’t signing until the jobs were done. Thank God they’re starting to correct themselves now.” – One the executive directors told this medium in an interview.
The agency’s leadership has also been accused of bribing high-profile officials to silence them and kill petitions. This involves using money to buy the silence of whistleblowers and others who might be in a position to expose the corruption. It’s a tactic that has been used to great effect, with many of those who have tried to speak out being silenced or intimidated into submission.
This medium confirmed this allegation with the current developments. Currently, the Director of Finance who was at loggerhead with As hiru over serious allegation considered damming by DG of BPP is now overseas with Ashiru after he was allegedly settled
Even the Director of Engineering that signed petition against Ashiru once denied having interview with us after he was contacted for some clarification. Unknown to him and others who had interview us , they are all on tape , a step we took to forestall this kind of denial .We believed had been settled too , after all , he once to revealed to us the leadership promise given to be settle him when the agency receive a supplementary budget . This is the man who told us that his boss was reached to prevail on him to cooperate with the leadership or find a way to work with them.
The agency’s leadership has also been accused of using divide and rule tactics, pitting stakeholders against each other to maintain their grip on power. Ashiru is allegedly a perfect user this trick . Given money freely to those on his side and taking them abroad for controversial trainings in Germany and Dubai as well sidelining the executive directors that opposed to given percentage of the contract funds to financiers and taking his own portion, a situation leading poor quality of job done .
The agency’s officials have also been accused of over-invoicing trips and training, inflating costs for personal gain. This involves submitting fake receipts and invoices for trips that were never taken or training that was never attended.
The agency’s leadership has also been accused of selling assets at giveaway prices, disposing of agency assets, including vehicles, to officials at bargain prices. It’s a clever way to embezzle money, but one that has been used to devastating effect. The same allegation of reaching out the powerful or the opposition to silence them is the current move by Ashiru to auction some of the agency vehicles that are under five years . In that dubious arrangement, even the minister has been allegedly penciled down for one of the vehicles to further silence him
Finally, the agency’s leadership has been accused of bribing media houses to buy silence and favorable coverage. This involves paying media outlets to ignore the agency’s corruption and mismanagement, and to instead publish flattering stories about the agency’s leadership. It’s a tactic that has been used to great effect, with many media outlets choosing to ignore the agency’s problems in favor of receiving a share of the bribes.
STRATEGIC DEAL PLAYERS : The unholy triangle
The Ogun-Osun River Basin corruption chain has exposed a toxic alliance between financiers, crooked officials, and compromised regulators. Financiers allegedly received kickbacks on every contract executed , while the DG BPP is accused of providing cover for the corruption. At the center, OORBDA’s Managing Director Deji Ashiru is embroiled in allegations of contract racketeering. This unholy trangle highlights the entrenched corruption in Nigeria’s public sector, where funds meant for development are siphoned off, and accountability is a distant dream. Will investigations lead to meaningful action, or will the status quo prevail?
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Senator Adeola: Financing Corruption Or Projects?
Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola is the arrowhead of those who believed in deploying their constituency projects funds into Ogun/Osun River Basin . However, the involvement of Senator Olamilekan Adeola is strategically linked to his drive to leverage his political ambition with his overwhelming influence as the chairman of a very strategic senate committee on Appropriation.
Senator Adeola is a force to be reckoned with in Nigerian politics! As the chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriation, he’s got the power to shape the country’s budget and drive development. But it’s not just about the position – Adeola’s got a reputation for being a proactive and passionate lawmaker, always pushing for progress and accountability. And with h is sights set on the Ogun State governorship, it’s clear he’s got big plans for his people. Love him or hate him, you can’t deny Adeola’s got ambition and energy – and that’s what Nigerian politics needs more of! Sources reveal Adeola allegedly leveraged his clout in the National Assembly to funnel funds to the agency.
However, in the process, Senator Adeola’s involvement in this Ogun-Osun River Basin project has been marred with controversy. The lawmaker’s aggressive pursuit of the governorship has him touting multiple projects across the state, but whispers of shady deals in the Ogun/Osun River Basin Development Authorities threaten to capsize his ambitions.
While the senator provided the funds using his influence , the allegation against him remains asking for 50 percent on every contracts executed , bringing multiple companies through his proxies to be awarded such contracts to make it easier for him to received kickbacks and ensuring that whole projects are allocated in Ogun state where he is targeting to be contest a gubernatorial election in 2027 at expense of other three that members of Ogun/Osun River Basin Authority .
28 controversial companies that were said to belong to him allegedly got 56 jobs allegedly in 2024 , making two for each company . To close their track the companies that Yayi is using are allegedly put under the control of Mr Osho though they were taken from the people here and there to make it difficult for anyone to trace any to them Yayi
The above allegations on the neck of Senator Adeola prompted this medium to begin its investigations and schedule an interview with him two years ago. No doubt, Senator Adeola very clever. At the venue of the interview with us he planned to be smarter. In a bizarre attempt to muzzle our reporter in an interview with him, he demanded for certain information to be shared with us off record. Adeola demanded our phones to be kept at a distance, but our team was one step ahead; unknown to him, he was recorded to avert the possible denial of what transpired between him and this medium.
After sharing with us some sentiments and was confronted with some allegations, the senator denied them and informed us his motive was to help his state and the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, particularly his food relief ambition.
Although he denied the above allegations , all the top officials and executive directors interviewed by this medium alleged that Senator Adeola demanded a 50% kickback as both Oumosu and Ashiru allegedly told at the management meetings , brought companies to execute contracts when those did not necessarily scaled through both technical and financial evaluations ; appointed a proxy named Osho to monitor the agency’s activities and ensure payment to those companies.
Though in our interview with the Senator he had never seen Odumosu in an interview , we later discovered it was pure deceit . A top official, who claimed to be a member of the team that negotiated funding during the tenure of Odumosu , the immediate past MD/CEO of the agency, revealed how a shocking 30% kickback was allegedly demanded from Ogun/Osun River Basin funds, though this was later increased to 50% as allegedly claimed by the current MD/CEO , Dr Deji Ashiru .
As part of the lobby team, one of the top officials recounted how Yayi helped secure N17.5 billion in funding, with the condition that projects would only be executed in Ogun State. According to him, he had appealed to Yayi to allow the agency to use at least N2 billion each of the funds for other states, with a 30% kickback on every project.
“However, when Ashiru took over, he allegedly changed the deal to a 50% cut for Yayi, while pocketing 20% for himself. This brazen betrayal of trust led to a toxic atmosphere between him and Ashiru, as allegations of embezzlement and corruption engulfed OORBDA.”
“This is the point of my disagreement with him. There’s no way 30 percent will be enough to do any project of good standard. That’s why a road contract of N500m executed in Ilesha was washed away the third day it was constructed; the same thing with a dam in Fiditi. Almost 75 percent of the jobs executed in 2024 have collapsed now,”
The senator’s threat to sue this medium over lack of evidence may not be enough to whitewash the allegations against him. Though the senator’s claim, according to a source that is allegedly close to him is that his name could not be traced any of those controversial company while he did not participate in any management meeting of the agency however , while he may dismiss the claims as mere allegations, the real test lies ahead for Ashiru and Odumosu, who will have to account for their role in the alleged kickbacks and shoddy works confirmed the the DG of BPP as damming . The duo will need to explain who was getting the 30% or 50% cuts, and justify the value delivered on contracts executed. With projects collapsing left and right, the courts will be looking for concrete evidence of work done versus funds allocated. It’s a messy situation that’s only getting messier, and the stakeholders are demanding answers.
Moreover, the fact that those behind the allegations against the senator and the two chief executives were recorded during the interviews by this medium and have shown a desire to confront the two chief executives in the court of law further undermines his defense. “When we pull Odumosu and Ashiru up with the evidence at our disposal, he’ll tell the court who’s behind the kickbacks,”one of the directors declared . In fact , it was Yayi request that allegedly sowed a seed of discord and created divisions within the management team, with some executive directors boycotting meetings, suggest a toxic atmosphere of mistrust and finger-pointing.
Moreover, while the senator’s defense appears to be a clever attempt to distance himself from the corruption scandal engulfing OORBDA, but it’s a thinly veiled attempt to shift blame. By claiming he didn’t physically attend board meetings, he’s trying to create plausible deniability, but the evidence suggests otherwise. The fact that Ashiru and Odumosu were allegedly representing his interests and tabling his proposals before the management implies a level of involvement that can’t be easily washed away.
The Engine room of Corruption
The Ogun/Osun River Basin Development Authority has become a veritable engine room of corruption, churning out a toxic mix of embezzlement, kickbacks, and shoddy works. With a steady flow of funds from lawmakers and the federal government, the management has perfected the art of siphoning resources meant for the people. It’s a well-oiled machine, with Odumosu and Ashiru expertly manipulating the system to line their pockets. The evidence is stark: collapsed roads, unfinished projects, and a trail of broken promises. The Ogun/Osun River Basin is a symbol of Nigeria’s corruption conundrum, where the powerful prey on the powerless, and accountability is a distant dream.
But the real challenge for Odumosu and Ashiru lies in managing the delicate balance of greed, as they navigate the treacherous waters of corruption. The alleged kickback scheme involving Senator Adeola and Ogun/Osun River Basin officials raises questions about the logistics of corruption. While it’s “easy” to demand bribes, delivering the them to the senator and ensuring the MD gets his cut was reportedly a Herculean task dictated by the management structure of the agency .
The management structure of River Basin Authorities in Nigeria is designed to promote accountability, transparency, and effective resource management. The Board of Directors, led by a Chairman, sets the overall strategy, while the Executive Management, headed by a Managing Director, oversees day-to-day operations. The segregation of duties among Executive Directors, such as the Director of Budget and the Director of Engineering, provides checks and balances, ensuring that contracts are thoroughly vetted and payments are justified. The Director of Engineering’s oversight of contract quality before payment adds an extra layer of scrutiny, while the Bureau of Public Procurements’ regulatory oversight ensures compliance with procurement guidelines. This structure, if functioning effectively, should prevent abuses of power and ensure that resources are utilized efficiently to achieve the authorities’ mandates. The Ogun-Osun River Basin Authority’s management structure, designed to promote accountability and transparency, has been allegedly hijacked by the CEO’s self-serving interests. With multiple parties involved, the risk of exposure increases, and the scramble for spoils can lead to bitter disputes
With financiers breathing down their necks, they must cleverly package the “unholy requests” to appease the executive directors and top officials, all while secretly feathering their own nests with government funds. It’s a high-wire act, where one misstep could spell disaster, but the lure of quick riches keeps them dancing.
Despite the above institutional challenges appeared undeterred; both of were desperate to satisfy financiers and accumulate personal wealth has led to the appointment of dubious contractors, bypassing due diligence. This was palpable as they resorted to divide-and-rule tactics, bribing them with oversea trainings attempting to manipulate the situation to his advantage. Moreover, he sidelined the board chairman to have a full control on the critical activities of the agency
But the executive directors were unrelented too. Thy started boycotting crucial meetings based on their belief against given any percentage to any financier other shady deals highlighted above
Olufemi Odumosu’s tenure as Managing Director of the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority (OORBDA) was marred by controversy and allegations of corruption. The agency, mandated to develop and manage water resources in Ogun, Oyo, Osun, and Lagos states, was accused of executing projects outside its jurisdiction, including in Kwara State, specifically in Patigi, the hometown of former Rep. Aliyu Pategi.
Odumosu claimed that OORBDA could execute projects “anywhere in Nigeria”, which raised eyebrows as it contradicted the River Basin Development Authorities Act. The agency was accused of executing projects in non-riparian states, violating its mandate. Several projects, including the Agbado-Isoye Water Scheme in Ogun State, Igbojaye Earth Dam in Oyo State, and Asa Earth Dam in Oyo State, were left incomplete or abandoned. There were also allegations of inflated contracts, such as the Nnagilae-Gboko road project in Patigi, which was marked “100% complete” despite being incomplete. The allocation of ₦812.4 million to Patigi projects in 2018 raised concerns about favoritism.Odumosu’s brazen tactics, which involved inflating project costs and collecting kickbacks upfront, made him a formidable force in the agency’s procurement processes. However, his downfall allegedly began when a contractor he had milked for money got disgruntled and blew the whistle.
According to insiders, Odumosu’s alleged modus operandi involved assuring contractors of jobs, only to demand a cut of the deal upfront. He would inflate project costs to compensate the financiers, while lining his own pockets. “His influence was such that he could dictate which companies got awarded contracts, often awarding them to his own firms or those willing to pay his price,” Though Odumosu allegedly negotiated the kickback to 30 per cent , the fact that his appointment was terminated abruptly made the alleged agreement to be truncated ; Odumosu was seen as a proxy for then-Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who had allegedly brought him on board.
Dr Deji Ashiru brought to replace him , is believed to be worse than his predecessor, however , the deceptive nature of his appearance and unassuming demeanor and silver tongue allowed him to infiltrate circles of trust and wade through the corridors of power. “That man is a notorious armed robber. But if you are meeting him for the first time, you will take him to be a man of God. He has a sugar-coated manner.
. “When he was brought to Ogun/Osun, I was one of those who started guiding him, thinking he was God-sent; we didn’t know he was an armed robber. He has destroyed a lot of things.”, a director declared
The allegations against Ashiru could be confirmed by the dubious manner he gained his appointment. Knowing full well that the post of the chief executive of the agency was not the turn of Ogun State, he allegedly manipulated his credentials to reflect Osun State. This generated heated controversy as some influential individuals challenged his claim, though he was allowed to continue after much lobbying by those behind his appointment.
However, while he scaled through that controversy, he faced a thorough challenge over selling Senator Adeola’s demand for a kickback. His case was made more terrible by his decision to convince the management that the senator insisted on 50 percent, against the former MD/CEO’s claim that the kickback had been reduced to 30 percent before he was sacked.
The above development put Ashiru in a dilemma. With Senator Adeola’s kickback demand hanging over his head, Ashiru found himself trapped between a rock and a hard place. Having allegedly failed to secure the cooperation of the executive directors and the board chairman, Ashiru’s ability to fulfill the senator’s expectations hung precariously in the balance. His fate served as a cautionary tale of the perils of corruption and the blurred lines between power and vulnerability.
To have his way, Ashiru had to tighten his grip on power, he exploited the void, pushing through decisions that suited his interests in their absence He was able to execute all the controversial projects and to take decisions after he forcefully exited the executive directors and appointed pliable career personnel, creating a toxic environment. The defiance of the honourable minister’s intervention and alleged sealing of the directors offices were parts of his brazen power plays.
Before new directors took office, controversial certificates of completion for substandard jobs were allegedly signed, and contracts awarded for 2025 budgets. To cover tracks, directors who should provide checks were sidelined, and career personnel were pressured into signing off on substandard or incomplete contracts.
This alleged web of corruption undermines the authority’s mandate, compromises project quality, and squanders resources meant for development.
The ugly developments above prompted some aggrieved stakeholders to fire petitions to EFCC and BPP What started as internal storm or bickering gained access into the public domain when the aggrieved executive officers fired a petition to EFCC and copied the Bureau of Public Procurement . The petition, routed through the Board Chairman to the BPP Director General, was signed by Sowade Oluwakayode (Executive Director, Engineering Services), Ayobami Oyalowo (Executive Director, Finance and Administration), and Sulaimon Oris (Executive Director, Agricultural Services). The directors claimed that despite being members of the Parastatal Tenders Board (PTB), they were “neither invited to any internal deliberations on the petitions nor called to provide clarifications. Following this petitio, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had to launch an investigation into the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority (OORBDA) over alleged contract irregularities ,The probe involved 28 companies suspected of involvement in contract fraud, bid rigging, and other procurement irregularities.
The EFCC requested the Director of Procurement to provide extensive documentation on contracts involving the listed companies, citing legal authority under Section 38(1) of the EFCC Act, 2004, and Section 24 of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. This move came after the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) had earlier suspended OORBDA’s procurement activities due to similar allegations.
The allegations against OORBDA included skewed project allocations, with ₦40 billion allocated to Ogun State, breach of procurement procedure, and opaque financial bid openings. There were also claims of inflated contract estimates and unauthorized access to internal data, as well as contracts awarded in violation of the lowest responsive bidder requirement.
Regulatory Cover Corruption
The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) is facing heat over allegations of complicity in the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority scandal. Dr. Adebowale Adedokun, the BPP Director-General, is accused of collecting bribes to cover up the mess, while the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and BPP reports remain under wraps ¹ ² ³.
The Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority’s story is indeed a stark reminder of how corruption can cripple institutions and undermine development efforts. The authority has been accused of executing projects outside its jurisdiction, inflating contracts, and awarding contracts without proper procurement processes.
The BPP, responsible for ensuring transparency in public procurement, has been accused of bias and partiality in its investigation into the scandal. Critics argue that the delay in releasing the investigation report is a clear indication of complicity ⁴.
The allegations against Dr. Adedokun and the BPP are serious and warrant urgent attention. If true, they undermine the credibility of Nigeria’s public procurement system and reinforce the notion that corruption is endemic in the country.
The EFCC and other anti-corruption agencies must act swiftly to investigate these allegations and bring perpetrators to justice. Transparency and accountability are crucial in ensuring that public resources are utilized effectively and efficiently
The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) finds itself at the center of controversy surrounding the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority (OORBDA) scandal. The BPP’s suspension of OORBDA’s procurement activities was a significant move, but allegations against its Director General, Adedokun, suggest a possible cover-up. Claims of bribery and reluctance to release investigation reports raise questions about the BPP’s impartiality.
The EFCC’s probe into OORBDA’s alleged contract irregularities, involving 28 companies, highlights the depth of corruption. The BPP’s own investigation, triggered by a petition from OORBDA’s Executive Directors, revealed skewed project allocations, procurement breaches, and inflated contracts. The agency’s inability to address these issues has led to accusations of complicity.
The OORBDA scandal exposes systemic problems in Nigeria’s public procurement system. The BPP’s role in ensuring transparency and accountability is crucial, but its effectiveness is being tested. Adedokun’s alleged actions have sparked concerns about the agency’s independence and willingness to tackle corruption.
