APC Patriotic Movement Demands Answers From Adeleke Government Over Osun Auditor-General’s 2025 Report
By Reloaded News
The APC Patriotic Movement (APCPM) has called on the Osun State Government to provide explanations on several financial discrepancies and administrative lapses highlighted in the 2025 report of the State Auditor-General, Mr Kolapo Idris.
The group said the issues raised in the report, including a ₦5.51 billion difference in reported cash balances, ₦206.9 million associated with defunct Heritage Bank and billions of naira held in agency accounts, required clear and transparent explanations from the government.
In a statement titled “Osun State Deserves Answers, Not Arguments: Our Reaction to the Auditor-General’s 2025 Report,” and signed by the APCPM, the group said its commitment to working with other political forces towards the presidential election would not prevent it from demanding accountability on matters affecting Osun State.
It maintained that its position was based on the Auditor-General’s report and not political rumours, stressing that public accountability should take precedence over partisan considerations.
On the state’s cash position, APCPM drew attention to the reported difference between ₦18.54 billion presented in the government’s financial statements as headquarters cash balance and approximately ₦24.06 billion obtained directly from banks.
The group said the difference of about ₦5.51 billion raised questions about the accuracy of the state’s financial records and called for a comprehensive bank reconciliation to establish the correct position.
It clarified that it was not alleging that the money had been stolen or was missing, but insisted that the government owed residents an explanation for the conflicting figures.
The movement also questioned the status of ₦206,939,439.58 reportedly held in Heritage Bank, whose operating licence was revoked by the Central Bank of Nigeria in June 2024.
It asked the government to disclose whether any portion of the money had been recovered through the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), the amount still outstanding and how the funds had been accounted for following the bank’s closure.
On funds held by ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), APCPM raised concerns over ₦2.46 billion which, according to the report, had not been returned to the state treasury in line with an existing government circular.
Although the government reportedly explained that the funds formed part of sub-accounts under its modulated Treasury Single Account arrangement, the group called for supporting documentation to demonstrate compliance with treasury regulations.
The statement further identified concerns relating to dormant, inactive and restricted bank accounts, citing balances of ₦112.63 million, ₦65.25 million and ₦11.31 million respectively.
It also questioned why some state bank accounts reportedly retained retired public officers and a former commissioner as authorised signatories, while cash books required by auditors were not made available.
APCPM described these issues as important weaknesses in public financial administration and urged the government to update bank mandates and strengthen oversight of state accounts.
On revenue reconciliation, the group highlighted a reported difference of ₦963.08 million between the September 2025 VAT figure contained in the state’s financial statements and the corresponding figure from the Federation Account.
While the government reportedly attributed the difference to additional revenue received during the month, APCPM said the explanation should be supported by proper documentation and reconciliation.
Beyond the specific audit observations, the movement called for public disclosure of Osun State’s current debt profile, debt-servicing obligations, payroll records and internally generated revenue performance.
It questioned the state’s overall financial position and asked the government to provide information on efforts to identify and remove ghost workers, the savings achieved through payroll verification and the extent to which the state was improving its internally generated revenue.
The group also drew attention to the unqualified audit opinion contained in the report, despite the observations relating to cash balances and other financial records.
It said it did not question the professionalism of the Auditor-General but wanted the government to explain whether the identified differences had been reconciled before the financial statements were certified.
APCPM subsequently outlined five demands to the Governor, the Accountant-General and the Ministry of Finance.
They include the publication of a full bank reconciliation explaining the ₦5.51 billion cash difference; a status report on the ₦206.9 million associated with Heritage Bank; explanations of the ₦2.46 billion in MDA accounts and the VAT discrepancy; an update of all bank signatories alongside the publication of state bank accounts; and disclosure of the state’s current debt, payroll and revenue positions.
The movement said its intervention was not intended to provoke political hostility or abuse but to promote transparency and responsible management of public resources.
“Public money must be accounted for, to the last kobo,” the group declared, adding that accountability was a responsibility shared by both government and opposition.
It maintained that the financial future of Osun State belonged to all its residents and that unresolved questions about public finances could have consequences for future generations.
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