The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has been dragged into a fresh political storm in Ondo State after a civil society group accused the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Olamide Oladiji, Deputy Speaker Ololade Gbegudu and Clerk of the House, Jayeola B.T., of allegedly forging lawmakers’ signatures to push through a controversial ₦70 billion budget adjustment.
In a petition dated July 27, 2026, the Ondo State Concerned Youth for Good Governance asked the EFCC to investigate the trio over claims that they secretly amended and approved the 2025 OSOPADEC budget without the knowledge or consent of members of the Assembly.
The petition, signed by the group’s lawyer, Abel Kosoko, alleged that on December 11, 2025, the Assembly leaders conspired to forge lawmakers’ signatures on a document titled House Resolution to approve changes to the OSOPADEC budget.
According to the petitioners, the budget amendment was carried out without any plenary session, debate or vote by lawmakers, despite being presented as an official House resolution.
They claimed only the Speaker, Deputy Speaker and Clerk were involved, insisting no other legislator attended any sitting on the day the resolution was allegedly passed.
The group further alleged that the names of all Assembly members appeared on the document, but their signatures were forged to create the impression they endorsed the budget changes.
The petition argued that the ₦70 billion expenditure should have gone through normal legislative scrutiny, debate and voting before approval, accusing the Assembly leadership of bypassing constitutional procedures to facilitate what it described as a fraudulent appropriation.
Demanding a full-scale investigation, the group urged the EFCC to determine the authenticity of the allegations and hold anyone found culpable accountable, saying the probe would help protect public funds and restore confidence in the state’s democratic institutions.
The petition comes as the leadership of the Ondo State House of Assembly remains engulfed in crisis. Twenty-one lawmakers have already vowed to impeach Speaker Oladiji over separate allegations of financial misconduct, including claims that he misappropriated ₦44 million linked to OSOPADEC.
The lawmakers say they have secured enough signatures to begin impeachment proceedings and have reportedly given the Speaker a seven-day ultimatum to resign or face removal.
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