By Victoria Tokolo
Aggrieved members of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Lagos State Chapter, have called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to urgently conclude investigations into alleged large-scale financial misconduct and money laundering involving the union’s state president, Mr. Sunday Sewanu Ogunfowora.
The call is contained in a petition dated July 3, 2025, addressed to the Chairman of the EFCC and written by Oladayo Ogungbe, Esq., of Ogungbe & Ogungbe Attorneys, on behalf of concerned NULGE members and a trustee of the union.
In the petition, the complainants accused Ogunfowora of alleged diversion and laundering of union funds amounting to over ₦100 million. They claimed that the funds were repeatedly transferred without authorisation into private and third-party bank accounts, allegedly without the knowledge or approval of the State Executive Council of the union.
According to the petition, the transactions were allegedly concealed and structured in a manner consistent with money laundering practices, raising serious concerns about financial accountability within the union.
A key allegation centres on the purported acquisition of a property at Ibereko, Badagry, said to have been purchased for NULGE. The petitioners alleged that the property was already personally owned by Ogunfowora, who allegedly used a proxy identified as Mr. David to resell the same property to the union at an inflated cost of ₦70 million.
They further claimed that the transaction was carried out without the approval of the State Executive Council and lacked transparent documentation, describing it as a deliberate scheme to launder union funds.
The petition also alleged that a ₦65 million loan facility obtained in the name of NULGE was diverted into several unknown accounts shortly after disbursement, with no explanation rendered to union members. The complainants described the development as a clear case of financial misconduct and possible laundering of union resources.
Additional allegations include the diversion of funds under the guise of executing union projects, unexplained transfers to individuals described as cronies of the union president, and failure to properly account for increased union revenues following the implementation of the new minimum wage and payment of salary arrears between November 2024 and January 2025.
Relying on provisions of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, as well as the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011, the petitioners maintained that the alleged actions amount to criminal conversion, stealing, breach of trust and money laundering.
The aggrieved members urged the EFCC to conduct a thorough, impartial and discreet investigation into the allegations, stressing that accountability and transparency must be upheld within the union.
They expressed confidence that the anti-graft agency would ensure that anyone found culpable is brought to justice, regardless of position or influence.
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