Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has asked payroll consultant Sally Tibbot to provide any evidence she has to anti-graft agencies probing potential irregularities in the state's payroll review process.

In a statement made on Wednesday in Osogbo, Governor Ademola Adeleke's spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, stated that existing investigations by appropriate authorities should be allowed to proceed without what he termed as a media trial.

Rasheed, responding to a recent television interview granted by the consultant and her counsel, Jiti Ogunye, in which allegations were made against senior state government officials, stated that the matter had already been referred to anti-corruption agencies, and that any additional information should be formally submitted to investigators rather than discussed on broadcast platforms.

He also questioned why the state administration was not granted a right of reply during the broadcast interview.

"The issues mentioned are currently being addressed by the proper anti-graft bodies. If there is additional evidence beyond the provided reports, it should be turned over to the investigators, he stated.

The message also addressed repeated references to Kazeem Akinleye, the Governor's Chief of Staff, whose conduct the consultant had lambasted in public.

Rasheed stated that the Chief of Staff operated within his official responsibilities during the payroll audit assessment, characterising his job as a gatekeeper who ensured due process was followed.

He stated that the consultant’s firm was engaged in January 2023, shortly after the present administration assumed office, and that the audit report under discussion concerned the payroll inherited from the previous government.

“She acknowledged in her report that thousands of workers were added to the payroll under the past administration.

“The audited payroll reflected the situation as it existed before the current government commenced its review,” Rasheed said.

The representative claimed that the distribution of recorded phone calls without consent violated existing laws, and that legal action was being explored.

Rasheed defended the administration's actions, saying the governor and his advisers intervened to avoid what he called irregular proposals that may have harmed legitimate workers.

"The Chief of Staff steadfastly defended due process and the rule of law." He stated that the administration remains dedicated to transparency and accountability in public resource management.

He reiterated that the investigation was underway and asked all parties to fully cooperate with anti-graft agencies, adding that the government will follow the results of the inquiry.