The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA) has petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged diversion and misapplication of the ₦30 billion released by the Federal Government to Oyo State following the January 2024 Bodija explosion in Ibadan.
In a petition dated January 5, 2026, and signed by its chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, HEDA queried how the funds meant for victims’ compensation, reconstruction of the affected area and emergency relief were utilised, alleging that only about ₦4.5 billion was applied, while the balance remains unaccounted for.
The petition followed public claims by former Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose, that ₦50 billion was released to Oyo State. The state government, however, clarified that it received ₦30 billion, insisting the funds remain untouched pending the release of an additional ₦20 billion.
While the Oyo State Government maintained that it spent ₦4.085 billion on compensation and relief from its own resources and denied any wrongdoing, HEDA raised concerns over transparency, alleging the federal funds were kept in a commercial bank for over a year without public disclosure.
The group urged the EFCC to investigate the receipt, management and utilisation of the funds, stressing that although the governor enjoys constitutional immunity from prosecution, such protection does not bar investigation into the handling of public resources.