Oyo Assembly Denies Secret Loan Approval,Clash With lawmaker Deepens

The controversy in Oyo State began when Ibrahim Shittu, representing Saki West Constituency, accused the House of Assembly of secretly approving a three hundred billion naira loan for Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration.

He claimed the approval was done during an emergency sitting while the Assembly was on recess.

The House of Assembly responded by dismissing the allegation and insisting that the loan process was transparent. Lawmakers explained that the loan package was not a single new request but divided into two parts. One hundred and forty-nine billion naira was meant to refinance an existing loan with United Bank for Africa, while one hundred and fifty-one billion naira was set aside for infrastructure projects and contractor payments.

The lawmakers defended the use of emergency plenary sessions, stating that such sittings are part of legislative practice and not out of order. They maintained that the process followed due procedure and that there was no attempt to keep it secret.

The Assembly also turned its attention to Shittu’s performance as a lawmaker, describing him as the least active member of the chamber. His attendance at plenary sessions was said to be poor, and he was accused of failing to take part in important sittings, oversight visits, and committee work. Lawmakers alleged that he had no record of sponsoring motions or bills and described him as disconnected from his legislative duties.

Shittu maintained his position that he did not take part in the loan approval. He stressed that the House was officially on recess from the end of July to mid-September and insisted that the emergency sitting was arranged without proper notice to all members. He questioned why such a large loan was treated as urgent when the state was already recording sharp increases in revenue from federal allocations.

The clash between Shittu and the Assembly has stirred debate in Oyo State about borrowing, accountability, and transparency. Residents and political observers are now paying closer attention to how legislative decisions are made, as the back-and-forth between the lawmaker and the Assembly raises concerns about trust in governance.