Alleged Contract Fraud: Bureau of Public Procurement Probes Ogun-Osun River Basin
As an example, he cited a ₦499.554 million contract for restoring electricity to Ogun Waterside Local Government allegedly awarded without his knowledge.
The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) has launched an investigation into the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority (OORBDA) after contractors and whistle-blowers raised complaints of irregularities in its 2025 budget procurement exercises.
In letters dated 30 June 2025 and addressed to the agency’s management, the Bureau confirmed receiving multiple petitions alleging inflation of contracts, tampering with in-house estimates, bid rigging, collusion, and other violations of the Public Procurement Act 2007.
The BPP warned that if the allegations are substantiated, they could damage the credibility of ongoing government procurement reforms. It directed OORBDA to immediately forward all relevant documents, including solicitation papers, bid documents, original and revised in-house estimates, and prequalification and financial bid submissions. Pending the outcome of the review, the Bureau suspended the affected procurement processes under Sections 6(1)(h) and (m) of the Procurement Act.
Beyond the 2025 budget, the Bureau also requested complete records of the Authority’s procurement activities for 2023 and 2024, broadening the scope of its inquiry. In correspondence with one of the petitioners under the banner of “Concerned Contractors,” the BPP said the complaint was being handled under its whistle-blower framework. OORBDA was given until 7 July 2025 to comply.
The letters were signed by the Director-General of the Bureau, Dr Adebowale A. Adedokun, and Engr Isaiah G. Yesufu on his behalf.
Meanwhile, a fresh twist emerged as the Chairman of the OORBDA Board, Odebunmi Olusegun, separately petitioned the Bureau, accusing the Authority’s Managing Director of sidelining him in the 2025 contract award process. In his letter, Olusegun alleged exclusion from procurement implementation, issuance of contract award letters without his involvement, and a breach of governance protocols despite his statutory role as board chair since December 2024.
He called on the Bureau to investigate the actions of the Authority, suspend ongoing procurement activities, review the legality of contracts already awarded, and provide interim regulatory guidance. As an example, he cited a ₦499.554 million contract for restoring electricity to Ogun Waterside Local Government allegedly awarded without his knowledge.
PIJAlance can confirm that Ogun Waterside LGA lacks power infrastructure hitherto. An African Angle report chronicles how lack of power supply in the entire LGA of Waterside, affect all sectors, including, the effectiveness of primary healthcare centres.
The Bureau has since acknowledged his petition and requested the River Basin Development Authority to formally respond.
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