EFCC Interrogates Tinubu Appointee, Olatunde Adepoju, Over Alleged Corruption, Multi-Million Naira Fraud

According to Sahara Reporters, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has interrogated Professor Olatunde Adepoju, Chairman of the Governing Council of the Federal College of Education, Ilawe Ekiti, over allegations of corruption and financial misconduct during his tenure as Director General of the Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN). The investigation is centered around accusations of misappropriation of funds and diversion of government property, including high-value vehicles.

Adepoju, who served as FRIN DG from March 2015 to March 2023, was invited by the EFCC in August 2024 but only honored the invitation on Tuesday, September 24, 2024. He was appointed to his current role by President Bola Tinubu in June 2024.

A source familiar with the case revealed that Adepoju was questioned over various allegations, including the sale of exotic vehicles intended for FRIN operations. The EFCC is also probing claims that he awarded fraudulent contracts and mismanaged cooperative funds during his time at the institute. The anti-graft agency confirmed the ongoing investigation, with further interrogations expected as new evidence emerges.

Adepoju has denied any wrongdoing, stating he is cooperating fully with the EFCC’s investigation. However, sources suggest he may be seeking to leverage connections within religious circles to influence the outcome of the probe.

This investigation adds to a string of corruption allegations that have followed Adepoju, with previous reports accusing him of running FRIN like a “personal estate” and withholding staff funds. In 2020, he reportedly returned N17 million of misappropriated funds meant for cooperative societies at the institution.

The EFCC has yet to release further details on the case, but it remains one of the many ongoing investigations aimed at tackling corruption within Nigerian public institutions.