Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has declared that there will be no place to hide for looters of Oyo State's funds.
The governor, who spoke on a Splash 105.5 FM programme, State Affairs, anchored by Edmond Obilo, at the weekend, said that his administration was determined to retrieve every kobo stolen by some members of the immediate past administration of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state.
Governor Makinde noted that his administration has been able to bring about a turnaround in the infrastructure of the state and other key sectors because it blocked loopholes and wastage of resources.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, quoted the governor as saying that his government was on the track of some chieftains of the APC in the state, who used a certain company to siphon between 12 and 15 billion naira of public funds.
He added that the government would go after them and retrieve the looted funds for the people of Oyo State.
He maintained that his administration took the bold step of plugging every hole through which the state's funds could be siphoned, adding: "Without blocking loopholes, we could not have been where we are today."
He further stated: "First, we did verification for the workers and ghost workers, ghost pensioners were removed from the payroll. They were there before we came in but we decided that, as an administration, we would not spend our time chasing shadows."
Giving an example of how the state bled through such loopholes during the immediate past APC government, the governor revealed how about 8 billion naria Paris Club refund was siphoned within eleven months.
He said: "Let me give you an example when I came in, I looked at how some monies were spent and I believed it was Paris Club refund they moved, which was about 7 billion to 8 billion naira to OYSROMA, Oyo State Road Maintenance Agency.
"This is an agency that operates normally on a budget of about 40 million to 45 million naira every month but this money came in around November 2017, and in early 2018, they started spending the money.
"When we came in, we discovered they finished spending the money within one year on nothing. They stole the money and I know those behind the stealing and I am also after them right now.
"There is a company called Chinese Global. They said they are Chinese people but we know the people behind it. The company has been shut down as we speak.
"I asked the General Manager in charge of OYSROMA and said, look, your budget is 44 million naira every month and, in a year, it is less than 500 million naira. Did you employ new people? He said no. Did you give out contracts? He said no. But how were you able to spend about 7 billion naira in eleven months without employing new people?.
"But he said the company supplied asphalt. And I said if the company did, was the asphalt used to repair roads without employing new people and giving out contracts? He said the money was moved from OYSROMA to Chinese Global and two other companies without any supply from the companies.
"As a result of that, I wrote to EFCC (Economic and Financial Crimes Commission) and reported the matter about what we are facing here.
"Chinese Global is also the company they awarded the Bembo-Apata Road contract to, and the same company got the Ido-Eruwa project. But I said to them, 'guys, you have Oyo State money with you. Go ahead and use the money to finish up the roads' and they promised to do it.
"But as soon as former Governor Abiola Ajimobi passed on, they reneged on all those projects. And I said, fine, for me, as long as you have Oyo State money with you, I will get it back and I am still saying it again that I will get back the money for our state.
"The money is in excess of 12 billion to 15 billion naira. Those who stole it are not Chinese but from Oyo State.
"We know them, and very soon, wherever they have investment or property in the world, I will go after them and collect this money for our state.
"This is a promise I made and I am not saying it outside of what I have discussed directly with the people involved. Oyo State's money will come back. Those who stole the money are the members of the APC who were in the government then."