For years, he occupied one of the most strategic financial positions inside Nigeria’s petroleum development architecture, overseeing budgets and financial reporting at the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF). To many colleagues, he was regarded as a seasoned accountant and finance expert with impressive academic credentials and decades of public service.
Today, that reputation has come under intense public scrutiny following a detailed petition submitted by the Public Accountability League (PAL), an Abuja-based anti-corruption and whistleblowing civil society organization, requesting multiple law enforcement and oversight agencies to investigate allegations concerning Mr. Steve Surulere Saheed Agboyinu, Deputy Director and Head of Budget and Final Reporting Division at PTDF.
PAL, known for supporting anti-corruption investigations and collaborating with law enforcement agencies in Nigeria and abroad, argues that public office is a public trust that must be exercised transparently and in strict compliance with the Constitution and other applicable laws.
According to the petition, Mr. Agboyinu occupies a highly sensitive office at PTDF headquarters in Abuja, where he oversees budget implementation and financial reporting. The organization argues that, given his professional qualifications and experience, he is expected to understand the legal obligations imposed on public officers regarding asset declaration, conflict of interest and financial transparency.
The petition alleges that while serving as a senior government official, Mr. Agboyinu founded and continues to be associated with the Steve Surulere Saheed Foundation, an organization reportedly involved in scholarship programmes, humanitarian interventions, educational support and community development initiatives across Nigeria.
PAL contends that although charitable work is generally commendable, investigators should determine whether his involvement with the foundation complies with constitutional provisions regulating the conduct of public officers.
The petition further alleges that Mr. Agboyinu failed to declare all assets, companies, trusteeships and financial interests before the Code of Conduct Bureau as required under the Fifth Schedule to the Constitution. It also alleges that his continued role as a trustee of the foundation while serving as a full-time public officer may constitute a conflict of interest if established by the appropriate authorities.
One of the most serious allegations contained in the petition concerns banking records. PAL claims that a Bank Verification Number (BVN) analysis allegedly linked to Mr. Agboyinu’s telephone number indicates the existence of 34 bank accounts, including accounts allegedly operated under different names and in the name of the foundation. The organization has asked investigators to determine whether those accounts were under his control and whether any transactions raise issues under Nigeria’s anti-money laundering laws.
The petition also urges investigators to examine whether public funds, grants, cooperative resources or contract proceeds were improperly diverted and whether proxy companies were allegedly used in the execution of government contracts.
According to information obtained by Chronicles Reporters, Mr. Agboyinu was also briefly detained at the Force Investigation Department (FID), Abuja, after honouring an invitation accompanied by his legal representative. However, the circumstances surrounding the reported detention and whether any formal charges resulted could not be independently verified.
In addition, sources familiar with the matter, who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly, told Chronicles Reporters that both the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) have allegedly issued invitation letters requesting Mr. Agboyinu to appear for interviews in relation to the petition. Chronicles Reporters has not independently verified the contents of the alleged invitation letters.
The petition further requests the EFCC to investigate Mr. Agboyinu’s assets, financial interests and lifestyle, relying on the Commission’s statutory powers to investigate whether a person’s assets are justified by their legitimate income.
PAL also asked the Code of Conduct Bureau to verify his asset declaration records and requested the Nigeria Police Force to investigate any criminal issues that may arise from the facts uncovered during the inquiry.
The organization concluded its petition by giving the relevant agencies fourteen days to acknowledge and commence action, warning that it may seek judicial intervention and organize peaceful protests should there be no official response.
As of the time of filing this report, all efforts by Chronicles Reporters to obtain Mr. Steve Surulere Saheed Agboyinu’s response to the allegations were unsuccessful.
Likewise, the Nigeria Police Force, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, and the Code of Conduct Bureau had not issued any official public statement confirming or denying the status of the petition or any ongoing investigation.
The allegations contained in PAL’s petition remain allegations. No court has found Mr. Agboyinu liable for any offence in connection with the matters raised, and he is entitled to the presumption of innocence unless and until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.