By Shina Abubakar Osogbo

A civil society organisation, Congress of Progressive Youth, COPY, has urged Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke to engage renown audit firms, KPMG or PwC to review Sally Tibbot Limited’s finding on Osun staff audit rather than writing anti-graft agencies.

Recalled that Sally Tibbot Limited was engaged by the Osun State Government to conduct staff auditing after which it alleged N13.7billion payroll fraud and the government discrediting the findings.

Speaking with newsmen in Osogbo on the development, on Thursday, COPY’s Director-General Ibrahim Aderinto, flanked by the Secretary and Publicity Scribe, Lekan Ibrahim and Abisola Olawale, said the accusations of the firm’s Chief Executive Officer, Sa’adat Bakrin-Ottun and the counter accusations of the state government on the firms credibility call for further scrutiny in the interest of the public.

The group disclosed further that the situation is disturbing and raised fundamental questions about transparency, accountability, and leadership in Osun State.

“The cry over the public funds allegedly being siphoned through salary manipulation schemes, including claims that a single private account is used to receive the salaries of over 5,000 workers monthly and over 13 billion naira annually is both worrisome and embarrassing.

“These weighty allegations demand urgent clarification. We therefore call for immediate commissioning of one of the globally respected accounting firms like; KPMG, PwC or Delloitte to either scrutinize the report of Sally Tibbot Nigeria Limited or start the staffs audit all over again instead of writing letter to EFCC and ICPC by the Government of Osun State for review the audit and re-verification reports.

“The claim of Osun State Government that it is opposition party that is using Sally Tibbot to blackmail Governor Ademola Adeleke government because of forthcoming election is logically confusing. We ask: is the opposition that employed Sally Tibbot for Osun State Government for salary audit assignment?

“The people of Osun State and indeed Nigerians deserve clear, verifiable answers. These issues must not be swept under the carpet. We therefore demand a thorough, transparent investigation by relevant anti-corruption agencies to uncover the truth and ensure that anyone found culpable is held accountable in accordance with the law”.