Ondo speaker faces impeachment threat over alleged ₦44m OSOPADEC fund mismanagement

Olamide Oladiji, speaker of the Ondo state house of assembly, is facing an impeachment threat over allegations that he mismanaged ₦44 million released by the Ondo State Oil-Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC).

Reports indicate that 21 of the 26 lawmakers in the assembly have endorsed an impeachment notice against the speaker over claims of financial misconduct.

The fund, reportedly meant for the reordering of the OSOPADEC 2026 budget, is said to have sparked a leadership crisis within the assembly in recent days.

Sources within the legislature claimed the controversy has placed the speaker under growing pressure.

According to the sources, some lawmakers alleged that Oladiji did not involve members in the distribution of the money, a situation they said has intensified dissatisfaction among legislators.

The sources further said the dispute could also affect Deputy Speaker Ololade Gbegudu, while Benjamin Jaiyeola, the clerk of the assembly, may be reassigned.

“The Speaker contemplated resigning today but did not go ahead with it. The issue is connected to an alleged ₦44 million involving funds reportedly released by OSOPADEC to the Assembly,” the source alleged.

“The money was meant for the entire House, but there are allegations that the Speaker did not carry other lawmakers along in handling the funds.”

One source alleged that Oladiji considered resigning on Monday before the issue could be discussed during Tuesday’s plenary but was convinced to remain in office.

“The Speaker wanted to resign today but did not eventually do so because of political intervention. We will see what happens tomorrow,” the source claimed.

Another source said the speaker stayed on following the intervention of a prominent political figure in the state.

However, Oladiji denied the allegations in a statement, describing the reports as false and politically driven.

He said the claims of a leadership crisis and the alleged misuse of OSOPADEC funds were “sensationalised, malicious and entirely fabricated”.

The statement also said lawmakers are responsible for deciding and managing their own welfare and allocations, adding that the speaker only receives the entitlements attached to his office under the law.

It further described allegations that he excluded lawmakers from the handling of the alleged ₦44 million OSOPADEC fund as “a manufactured lie designed to create artificial disaffection where none exists”.

“We state unequivocally, without an atom of ambiguity, that Rt. Hon. Olamide Oladiji never contemplated resigning, nor is there any leadership crisis within the 10th Ondo State House of Assembly,” the statement reads.

“The report is a total figment of the imagination of its authors and their nameless sources.”

Speaking with journalists, Oladiji also rejected claims that 21 lawmakers had called for his resignation.

Meanwhile, Olawumi Fayemi-Obayelu, who represents Ilaje Constituency II, alleged that she narrowly escaped death after receiving threats over what she described as her probe into alleged bribery, forgery and corruption involving the speaker and OSOPADEC.

In a Facebook post on Tuesday, the lawmaker accused the speaker of trying to intimidate her in connection with the reported impeachment move.

She reiterated what she described as the position of two-thirds of the assembly, calling on the speaker to resign or “face the consequences” of his actions.

Fayemi-Obayelu also alleged that funds meant for her constituency were being diverted and insisted that the threats would not stop her.