Oyo State Anti-Corruption Agency says civil service is now free of corruption after handling over 600 petitions and securing multiple convictions

Oyo State Anti-Corruption Agency (OYACA) has declared that the state’s civil service has been effectively cleansed of corruption, thanks to its sustained anti-graft efforts.

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Speaking in Ibadan on Tuesday, the agency’s Chairman, Justice Eni Esan (retd.), stated that the core mandate of OYACA—sanitising the public service—has begun yielding tangible results.

The announcement comes amid wider national discussions on transparency and accountability in governance.

“Governor Seyi Makinde’s main goal when constituting the OYACA board was to ensure civil servants at all levels carry out their duties without institutionalised corruption,” Esan said.

The agency has handled over 600 public petitions, many involving senior civil servants, and has secured convictions through due legal processes.

With five operational branches across Oyo State, the agency has made it easier for citizens to report misconduct and lodge petitions.

According to Esan, OYACA’s mandate includes the authority to investigate any individual in the state, regardless of rank or influence.

She stressed that the agency operates independently and without political interference.

“We have no pressure at all on any case. None. I’m telling you the facts,” she stated. “The Governor said it himself—if a petition is filed against anyone, no matter how highly placed, we should investigate.”

She affirmed that OYACA has not shied away from probing powerful figures and continues to send a strong message that corruption will not be tolerated in Oyo State.

The agency’s work reinforces Governor Seyi Makinde’s broader reform agenda and signals a serious commitment to public accountability and clean governance.

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As Nigeria grapples with systemic corruption across many levels of government, OYACA’s report is a rare and bold claim—one that may set a benchmark for other states in the fight against entrenched public sector malpractice.