Oyo NSCDC Commandant Responds to Extortion Claims

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Oyo State has denied claims that its Commandant, Augustine Padonu, extorted money from staff.

This denial came on Tuesday in Ibadan through a statement from the command’s Public Relations Officer, Samuel Opebiyi.

The command reacted to an online post that accused the commandant of running an extortion scheme.

The report alleged that personnel on different assignments across the state were forced to contribute money for the commandant’s birthday and a church harvest celebration.

Opebiyi rejected these claims. He said the commandant never told any officer to make financial contributions for personal events.

He pointed out that the commandant’s birthday and church harvest events were private family matters that happened in early August. These events had nothing to do with official Corps resources.

The command also questioned the timing of the allegations. They noted the claims appeared right after a major restructuring and personnel redeployment on September 24.

This restructuring was done for better operations as the 2027 general elections approach.

Opebiyi said the publication likely came from unhappy individuals who did not like their new assignments. They were trying to damage the commandant's reputation.

He insisted that staff rotations are normal administrative actions needed for the Corps to meet its national security duties.

“The State Commandant is fully committed to the Corps’ mission of protecting lives and property, safeguarding important national assets, and assisting other security agencies in keeping peace in the state,” Opebiyi stated.

He also mentioned that the commandant cares about staff welfare and strict discipline. He reiterated the Corps’ zero-tolerance stance on any unauthorized fees or deductions from staff allowances.

Opebiyi encouraged any officer with real complaints to use official administrative channels for quick and fair handling. He warned that any personnel found guilty of misconduct would face serious disciplinary measures.

The command spokesperson called on media outlets to be objective and check facts before reporting. He also advised the public to ignore unverified claims that could harm trust in the command’s leadership.

“The command will stay focused on its duties and will not be distracted from its mission, despite attempts to undermine public trust in the Corps or the State Commandant’s leadership,” he added.