The Oyo State House of Assembly passed a Law called the Oyo State Anti-Corruption Agency Law, 2019 (the “Law”). The Law was later assented to on 10th December, 2019, by His Excellency, Governor Oluseyi Makinde. The purpose of the law is to establish the Oyo State Anti-Corruption Agency (the “Agency”), to check corruption in the state and other related matters. In this context, corruption means unlawful gratification given or promised to any person in the performance of his duties.
The Law specifically frowns at monies, fees, donations, loans, gifts, reward, office, dignity, valuable security, property or interest in property (being property of any description, whether movable or immovable), given or promised to be given as consideration for the performance of a public administrative duty.
The Agency was established by the virtue of the Oyo State Anti-Corruption Agency Law, 2019. The activities of OYACA would plug revenue leaks in the government purse and stop the act of mismanagement of office by public office holders and government workers
Board Members
Hon. Justice Eni Esan (Rtd)
Hon. Justice Eni Esan (Rtd) was appointed and sworn in by his Excellency Executive Governor of Oyo State, Engineer Seyi Makinde as the Chairman of OYACA on the 22nd of December 2020.
She is the pioneer head of OYACA and the first female to be so appointed.
Hon. Justice Eni Esan attended the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus from 1974 to 1978 Where she obtained her LLB (Hons) Degree. Thereafter, she attended the Nigerian Law School and was called to the Nigerian bar in 1979.
She started her legal career in the Ministry of Justice, Secretariat, Ibadan as a state counsel in 1981. She crossed over to the Oyo State Judiciary in 1989 as a Senior Magistrate. She rose through the ranks to become the Chief Registrar of the High Court and was elevated to the high court bench as a judge of that court in July 2001.
She served in that capacity for 17 years before she was appointed as the President Oyo State Customary Court of Appeal. The appointment was significant as she was the first woman to occupy that position. She headed that court until her retirement in January 2020.
While in the service of the judiciary of Oyo Sate, she attended several workshops, refreshers courses, seminars and conferences both nationally and internationally.
As a thorough bred jurat, Hon, Justice Esan served in various election petition tribunals and election appeal tribunals, including the Gubernatorial and National Assembly Election Petition Tribunals in Kaduna and Cross River States respectively.
She is a member of several professional bodies which include Commonwealth Judges and Magistrates Association, the International as well as the National Association of Women Judges.
She is a fellow Of the Nigerian Institute of Chartered Arbitrators (NICARB) and also a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators (ICMC).
She is a Pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God.
She is married with children and grandchildren.
Hon. Justice Eni Esan (Rtd)
Chairman
Hon. Justice Eni Esan (Rtd) was appointed and sworn in...
Prince Oyebade Oyedepo
Prince Oyebade Oyedepo was born some decades ago at Eruwa in Ibarapa East Local Government Area of Oyo State. He attended Igboora High School, Igboora, Faculty of Education University of Ibadan, Centre for Professional Training Ibadan and Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Ogbomoso at one time or the other.
He qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1991. He also holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration. He is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN).
He began his professional career in the firm of Olasunkanmi Oyedepo & Co Ibadan in the early 80s. He rose through the ranks in accounting firms before becoming the Audit Manager at Otunola Adebayo & Co Ilorin in 1991.
In-between his tutelage in accounting firms, he worked briefly at Blue Straps Limited, Ibadan as the Account/Import Officer which broadened his knowledge in the business of importation.
He later became the Chief Accountant of Cocoa Products Industry (Nigeria) Limited, Ede Osun State from 1992 to 1994 before setting up his own professional practice in the name of Oyebade Oyedepo & Co.
Prince Oyebade Oyedepo has served as the Chairman of Ibadan & District Society of CITN & ICAN at one time or the other. He has also served as the Zonal Chairman of Western Zone of ICAN. He was an elected member of the national governing council of ICAN for some years which afforded him the opportunity to contribute to policy formulation of a foremost professional institute. He was privileged to serve as the Coordinator of Minna & District Society of ICAN as part of his responsibilities as a council member.
Prince Oyebade Oyedepo was the Pioneer Chairman of Western Zonal Accountants’ Conference of ICAN and conference adviser for many years.
He served as a Chief Invigilator, Examiner and Group Leader in Financial Accounting and Taxation at ICAN Professional Examinations.
He was the Deputy Chairman of ATSWA Committee, Investigating Panel and Students’ Affairs Committee of ICAN at the National Level for some years. He led ICAN accreditation teams to some tertiary institutions in the Country during the peak of his service to his profession.
Prince Oyebade Oyedepo served as a member of Curriculum Development Committee set up by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to develop the curriculum for the Introduction of National Diploma in Taxation in the Polytechnics.
He has been privileged to serve Oyo State Government as a Member of an Administrative Panel of Enquiry and a Judicial Commission of Enquiry.
Presently, he is serving the State as a Board Member of Oyo State Anti Corruption Agency (OYACA).
Prince Oyebade Oyedepo is also currently serving as a member of the Board of Patrons of Ibadan & District Society of ICAN. He is equally the Vice Chairman of Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Oyo State Chapter.
He is a writer and author of several articles and books on finance. He has also written a collection of short stories (prose). He is a motivational speaker and a Public Affairs Analyst highly sought after.
Prince Oyebade Oyedepo has facilitated as a Resource Person at several fora. He is a recipient of several awards from professional bodies, corporate organizations, educational institutions and the society at large in recognition of his selfless services to humanity.
He is happily married with wonderful children.
Prince Oyebade Oyedepo
Board Member
Prince Oyebade Oyedepo was born some decades ago at Eruwa...
The journey to this inauguration formally started about a year ago with the signing of the Oyo State Anti-Corruption Law 2019. The law is primarily directed at sanitising the public/civil service and ensuring that both public and civil servants at both the state and local government levels carry out their responsibilities without institutionalised corruption.
We would be lying to ourselves if we do not acknowledge the endemic corruption in the system. Just recently, you may have come across various videos on social media where some people made statements alluding to not being given access to state coffers. Apparently, these people feel that the state’s accounts should be made available to them to do as they please.
So, with this inauguration of the Oyo State Anti- Corruption Agency (OYACA), we are sending out a clear message, here in Oyo State, we have zero-tolerance for corruption. Any person elected, employed or engaged in any capacity in the public or civil service in Oyo State, who accepts or promises to accept money, fees, donations, loans, gifts, or any other reward for rendering a service to members of the public will be investigated and made to face the full wrath of the law.
It will no longer be business as usual. Public/civil servants are called to serve, not to steal. And I trust that the members of OYACA will do all in their power to ensure that all matters brought to their attention are judiciously handled. There are to be no sacred cows, anyone who runs afoul of this law will be prosecuted swiftly.
OYACA is here today represented by members of the board. Men and women of integrity. We have the Chairman of the board as Justice Eni Esan, a retired judge and former President of Oyo State Customary Court of Appeal. The secretary of the board is Mr Ibrahim Oyemonla Tijani, the Director, Ministry of Justice.
Other members are Prince Oyebade Oyedepo, Barr. Temitope Ayorinde, Dns. Esther Olapade, Mr A.S Ashaolu and CSP Erindero Lawrence.
So I ask that members of this agency continue maintaining the impeccable records for which they were picked. The goal should be to ensure that the Oyo State public/civil service becomes the benchmark.
When collaborations become necessary, OYACA is empowered to collaborate with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC).
I will always maintain that for us to build the Nigeria we dream of, we must create strong systems and institutions. We must also be willing to work and make sacrifices for those systems to function correctly. This agency is part of the systems we are putting in place in Oyo State. So instead of offering a bribe to get ahead for that contract or promotion, why not be patient and wait your turn?
Corruption works with a giver and receiver. So, I urge the good people of Oyo State to refrain from offering bribes and to refuse to give bribes to any public officers even if they insist on it. We have so many channels to report such misconduct, and more are on the way. Please use our feedback channels to make a report against any public officer who is involved in corruption.
With that being said, I hereby pronounce the Oyo State Anti Corruption Agency inaugurated.
~ Governor Seyi Makinde, December 22, 2020