A seeming crisis has engulfed the Lagos State Chapter of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) over calls by aggrieved members to the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate Sunday Sewanu Ogunfowora, the chairman of the union in the state, for alleged financial misconduct and money laundering.

The calls were contained in a petition, written by Oladayo Ogungbe, Esq. of Ogungbe & Ogungbe Attorneys, a Lagos-based law firm, on behalf of concerned members of NULGE and a trustee of the union.

The petitioner accused the Lagos State leader of NULGE, Ogunfowora, of large-scale financial misconduct, diversion of union funds and money laundering running into over N100 million.

According to the petition, the alleged misconduct involved repeated unauthorized transfers of union funds into private and third-party accounts without the consent or knowledge of the State Executive Council.

The petitioners claimed that these transactions were deliberately concealed and structured in a manner consistent with money laundering practices.

A major highlight of the petition is the alleged fraudulent acquisition of a property at Ibereko, Badagry, which was purportedly purchased for the union.

The petitioners alleged that Mr. Ogunfowora personally owned the property and used a certain Mr. David as a front to sell the same property to NULGE at an exorbitant price of N70 million.

They claimed the transaction was a calculated scheme to launder union funds, noting that no approval was obtained from the State Executive Council and no transparent documentation was presented to justify the purchase.

The petition further alleged that a N65 million loan facility obtained in the name of the union was diverted into various unknown accounts shortly after it was credited, without any explanation to members.

The complainants described the transaction as a clear case of financial misconduct and possible laundering of union resources.

Other allegations include the diversion of funds under the guise of union projects, unexplained transfers to individuals described as cronies, and failure to account for increased union earnings following the implementation of the new minimum wage and payment of arrears between November 2024 and January 2025.

Citing provisions of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, and the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011, the petitioners maintained that the alleged actions amount to criminal conversion, stealing, breach of public trust and money laundering.

They urged the EFCC to conduct a thorough, impartial and discreet investigation into the allegations, stressing that accountability and transparency must prevail within the union.

The aggrieved members expressed confidence that the EFCC would ensure that anyone found culpable is brought to justice, regardless of status or influence. (Nigerian Tribune)

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