A global and non political organisation, Naija Lives Matter (NLM), has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission in Nigeria (ICPC), the Ogun State House of Assembly and the people of Ogun State to investigate Governor Dapo Abiodun over certain highlighted allegations.
The organisation, founded by Dr. Ope Banwo made the call in an open letter, as part of its “HoldYourGov” campaign under the Make Nigeria Great Again (MANGA) initiative.
In the letter, the NLM outlined 21 allegations, stating categorically that while it is not claiming that they are proven or confirmed, it is simply demanding explanations and transparent investigations, because most of the allegations have been in the public space for a while, unaddressed and unresolved by the institutions who are meant to handle them.
Among the allegations that the group is seeking investigations into are certificate forgery, contract inflation, electoral fraud, and financial mismanagement of over ₦200 billion in public funds.
“For too long, we have been inclined to mostly focus our outrage on Aso Rock while the real architects of our daily direct suffering (our state governors and state and local representatives) operate unchecked in our backyards. That ends now.
“At Naija Lives Matter Organization we are taking a bold step to federalize citizen accountability.
“This open letter to Governor Dapo Abiodun demanding transparent investigations into the stewardship of Ogun State under Governor Dapo Abiodun is not fiction. It is a well-researched, sourced, and unapologetically direct indictment of serious allegations,” the letter read in part.
NLM clarified that its call to accountability is a moral, civic, and patriotic obligation and not focused on politicking, adding that the people of Ogun State deserve answers—not propaganda.
Furthermore, the group noted that while the letter is based on preliminary findings from publicly available reports, affidavits, and investigative journalism by its team and others who it is not even aligned with, the weight and number of allegations demand public attention and transparency.
To this end, it demands a full public disclosure of all state financial transactions from 2019 to 2024. It is also urging the Ogun State House of Assembly to open a public inquiry while charging all anti-corruption agencies in the country to ensure a post-immunity prosecution if any of these allegations prove true.
