The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has reportedly received a petition from a civic organisation, Integrity Youths of Badagry West, accusing the Chairman of Badagry West Local Council Development Area, Hon Hennugbe Joseph Gbenu, of large scale corruption, misappropriation of public funds and illegal acquisition of properties within and outside Lagos.

A stamped receipt issued by the EFCC on May 7, 2025 at exactly 11:25 a.m, confirms that the anti-graft agency has taken delivery of the petition.

The petition, originally dated May 1, 2025 and addressed to the Department of State Services, was signed by the group’s President, Ibraheem Semako, and contains extensive allegations backed with addresses of properties, names of alleged collaborators and descriptions of financial practices they say have crippled development in Badagry West LCDA since 2021.

Petitioners Allege Zero Development Despite Billions in Allocations
According to the document, Hon Gbenu, who assumed his second term on July 27, 2021, has allegedly run the council in a manner described by the group as idle, opaque and disconnected from governance. The group alleges that the Chairman attends office only at his convenience and “acts like an emperor in the council secretariat.”

Despite billions in statutory allocations released to the LCDA between 2021 and 2025, the petition states that only three visible projects can be credited to his administration. These include a six classroom block at Emuko Primary School, a maternity centre at Boglo and a new administrative block at the council headquarters in Kankon.

The group notes that no new roads, water facilities, rural electrification projects, community infrastructure or public welfare programmes have been executed during his tenure. They describe the state of the LCDA as “pathetic” and inconsistent with the volume of funds received from the federal allocation framework.
Chairman Accused of Acquiring Fuel Stations, Beach Resort and Multiple Properties
The petition lists several properties said to have been acquired by Hon Gbenu within four years, alleging that these assets were funded with council money.

Among the properties named are:
• AP Fuel Station located at Roundabout, Badagry
• AP Fuel Station opposite Badagry Grammar School
• OLASEDO Fuel Station at Iyana Iyafin, along the Lagos Badagry Expressway
• A developing beach resort located after Sultan Beach on Seme Road
• A plot of land valued at more than forty eight million naira at Y Junction, Dokoh, Badagry

The group claims that these projects, several of which are commercial ventures, were never declared in any official asset register, and raises concerns that they were acquired without any legitimate source of income beyond diverted council funds.

Petition Also Points to Alleged Money Transfers to Political Godfather
The youth organisation alleges that Hon Gbenu has been diverting a substantial portion of the LCDA’s monthly allocation to his political mentor, Hon Hontonyon Bamgbose. According to the petition, the funds are used to prosecute political battles within Badagry and sponsor anti party activities including litigation that reportedly stretched to the Supreme Court after Bamgbose lost a primary election in 2019.

The petition accuses Bamgbose of benefiting from a “large share” of the council’s finances and claims the relationship has drained funds meant for development.

Three Alleged Collaborators Named in Financial Diversion
In what appears to be a detailed breakdown of a financial network, the group lists three individuals said to be assisting the Chairman in diverting funds and acquiring properties.
They are identified as:
• Sunday Josiah also known as Achiever
• Ajaneson Olajide
• Wheto Meshack
The petition claims these individuals assist in procurement of properties, movement of funds and concealing ownership through unofficial channels.
Attempt to Install Vice Chairman as Successor
The petition alleges that Hon Gbenu and his political associates have started sponsoring the council Vice Chairman, Rauf Ibrahim Kayode Yemaren also known as Rikay, as a successor to prevent any future scrutiny of the alleged financial irregularities.
The group alleges that “large sums of council money” are already being spent on political mobilisation for Yemaren’s chairmanship ambition, describing it as a continuation strategy to cover traces of mismanagement.
Group Says Mismanagement Has Cost Lives and Calls for Forensic Audit

Integrity Youths of Badagry West states that the alleged diversion of funds has deeply affected local welfare and destroyed opportunities for development. The petition claims that many residents have suffered preventable hardship and deaths due to lack of basic social amenities which the LCDA should ordinarily provide.
Citing the EFCC Act, the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act and the Nigerian Constitution, the group says the alleged acts amount to crimes against the people of Badagry West.

They are requesting:
• A full investigation of Hon Gbenu and his collaborators
• An independent forensic audit of all LCDA accounts from July 2021 to date
• A probe into all suspicious properties linked to the Chairman
• Prosecution of all persons found culpable

The petitioner, Mr Semako, also declared his willingness to provide additional evidence, photographs and further clarification to investigators.

As at press time, Hon Gbenu and other individuals mentioned in the petition have not publicly responded. The EFCC has also not issued any statement regarding the next steps.

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