By Our Reporter
Fresh controversy is brewing in Ondo State as a civic group, Concerned Sons and Daughters of Ondo State Initiative, has petitioned three key oversight institutions — the Ondo State House of Assembly, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) — demanding a full-scale investigation into what it described as discrepancies in Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa’s academic credentials and questionable management of state finances.
In a petition dated October 17, 2025, and signed by its National Coordinator, Akinrinsola Adetokunbo, the group alleged that the governor’s publicly declared educational qualifications contain irregularities that require urgent verification by the relevant institutions.
According to the petition, Governor Aiyedatiwa’s educational background, as stated in public documents, includes an Advanced Diploma in Business Administration from the University of Ibadan (2001), studies at the Lagos Business School, a Postgraduate Certificate in Business Management, and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Liverpool, United Kingdom, obtained in 2013.
However, the group claimed that independent checks and preliminary findings revealed no verifiable record of the said Advanced Diploma at the University of Ibadan in 2001, no official confirmation from Lagos Business School of attendance, and no verification from the University of Liverpool regarding the issuance of the MBA degree.
“These inconsistencies raise serious concerns about possible misrepresentation in the governor’s public declarations,” the petition stated, adding that such acts, if proven, could amount to violations of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act as well as provisions of the Criminal Code Act relating to forgery and false information.
Questions Over Financial Transparency
Beyond the academic concerns, the group raised weighty allegations of financial irregularities in the disbursement of Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) funds to local governments in the state between January and September 2025.
According to the petition, despite Ondo State reportedly receiving over ₦109 billion from FAAC within the period, local governments were said to have received as little as ₦4 million monthly, even though FAAC records show average monthly inflows of between ₦10 billion and ₦12 billion.
“This wide disparity calls for a forensic audit to ensure compliance with constitutional provisions mandating direct remittance to local governments,” the petition read, insisting that the issue demands the attention of anti-corruption agencies and the state legislature.
The group also called on the Ondo State House of Assembly to immediately convene a public oversight hearing, compelling the governor, the commissioner for finance, and the accountant-general to produce FAAC receipts, bank statements, and reconciliation reports for the period under review. It urged the Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee to scrutinize the utilisation of funds and authenticate the governor’s academic records.
In addition, the petition appealed to the ICPC to undertake a forensic audit of the state’s financial transactions, while urging the Code of Conduct Bureau to review the governor’s asset declaration forms and verify all submitted educational credentials with the issuing institutions.
Call for Transparency and Accountability
The group maintained that its petition was not politically motivated but rather a demand for transparency, accountability, and the restoration of public trust in governance.
“Failure to address these matters transparently risks further erosion of public confidence and continued hardship for citizens whose taxes and allocations fund the state,” the petition warned.
Observers say the development could open a new chapter in Ondo politics, particularly as the state prepares for a critical political season where integrity, public accountability, and leadership credibility are expected to dominate conversations.
Efforts by The Pivot to obtain official reactions from Governor’s reactions were unsuccessful as of press time.
