The Ogun State House of Assembly has summoned a former Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Adeola Odedina, alongside key officials of the National Cassava Growers Association, over alleged illegal deductions from the accounts of beneficiaries of the defunct Anchor Borrowers Programme in the state.
The Assembly’s Committee on Agriculture, led by Hon. Waliu Owode, issued the summons during its sitting at the Assembly Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, as part of an ongoing investigation into petitions from victims of the scheme.
The affected farmers alleged that funds were deducted from their accounts by Wema Bank Plc without them benefiting from the programme.
According to Hon. Owode, the former Commissioner, the Chairman and Secretary of the Cassava Growers Association, the immediate past executive members, Mr. Ilori and Mr. Segun Adewunmi, and the Project Manager of the Anchor Borrowers Programme are to appear before the lawmakers on Tuesday, October 28, 2025.
He said, “The Committee is determined to unravel the truth behind the deductions made from farmers’ accounts. We have received several petitions from victims who claim that their personal funds were taken by the bank without receiving any farm inputs or support from the programme. It is our duty to ensure justice is done.”
The Committee also directed Wema Bank Plc to submit a comprehensive report of all disbursements made under the Anchor Borrowers Programme, including the list of beneficiaries, service providers, and supporting documents.
Hon. Owode added, “We expect full cooperation from Wema Bank and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in this matter. The CBN’s Abeokuta branch must also provide a verified list of beneficiaries to help us cross-check all claims. This is a public fund and we must account for every kobo.”
Present at the session was the State Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Bolu Owootomo, who assured the lawmakers of the ministry’s readiness to support the probe. “We will provide every necessary document and information required to assist the Assembly in getting to the root of the issue,” he stated.
Owode further disclosed that the Committee on Public Accounts and Anti-Corruption would collaborate with the Agriculture Committee to strengthen the investigation, given that it concerns the disbursement and management of public funds.
He maintained that the Assembly would continue to defend the interest of the people and ensure transparency in government programmes, especially those designed to support farmers.
RE ANCHOR BORROWERS LOAN SCARM TO PLANT CASSAVA IN OGUN STATE.
During the first term of Governor Dapo Abiodun regime. The government opened WEMA ACCT and posted CASSAVA PLANTING LOAN for our AGBELEYE FARMER COPERATIVE GROUP as ANCHOR BORROWER Implementation BUT we were not allowed to access this LOAN.
Funny enough as CAMPAIGNING for Governor’s second term commenced we were called by a CONSULTANT from the OGUN STATE GOVERNMENT that they were told to inform us that the LOAN shall be activated by the CONSULTANT for us to gain ACCESS to the LOAN.
The next thing we had from the OGUN STATE GOVERNMENT was clearing the said LOAN and DEDUCTIONS of COMMISSION for the LOAN no one accessed by WEMA BANK early this year (MARCH 2025.
*”E GBA WA LOWO OGUN STATE GOVERNMENT ATI WEMA BANK O O”*
LET THEM EXPLAIÑ WHAT HAPPENED AND REFOUN OUR DEDUCTED AMOUNTS.
Thanks
Ayodeji Femi