Betrayed and hunted: Whistleblower forced into hiding after exposing corruption

Mrs. Bola Shodunke, over whelmed with fear and grief, has come forward to narrate the horrifying ordeal to the pressmen faced alongside three of her colleagues Mrs. Olasunkanmi Akinbobola, Ada Oshawe, and Ijeoma Oke, Mrs. Olasunkanmi Akinbobola, along with her family, has fled into hiding, leaving no information about their whereabouts.

Mrs. Shodunke, herself now said she will be on the run with her family because her life is under threat, shared the tragic sequence of events that began when they exposed a massive corruption scandal.

“It all started when Olasunkanmi Akinbobola, myself(Bola Shodunke), and two other colleagues Ada Oshawe and Ijeoma Oke discovered evidence of bank theft and money laundering through foreign currencies involving a powerful politician and his cartel,” Mrs. Shodunke explained. “We reported our findings to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), believing they would act to protect the nation. But instead, we became the targets.”

Initially commended for their bravery, the group soon faced retaliation. Corrupt officials within the EFCC reportedly leaked their identities to the cartel, setting off a series of deadly attacks.

“The cartel acted swiftly,” Mrs. Shodunke revealed. “Ada Oshawe and her entire family were murdered in cold blood. It was a clear message to the rest of us that we were next.”

As threats escalated, Mrs. Akinbobola Olasunkanmi noticed a suspicious vehicle frequently parked near her home. Her fears were confirmed when a man from the car approached her young son, asking invasive questions. Not long after, her home was set on fire in an arson attack which prompted Mrs. Akinbobola Olasunkanmi and her family into hiding for safety, till now we have no information about Mrs Akinbobola’s whereabouts.

“They barely escaped with their lives,” Mrs. Shodunke recounted. “While fleeing, they were ambushed by armed men attempting to abduct them. If not for the intervention of neighbors and vigilantes, they might not have survived.”

Since that night, Mrs. Akinbobola and her family have been on the run, leaving no trace of their location. The cartel, emboldened by access to her personal information allegedly provided by corrupt EFCC officials, continues to hunt them.

“Her husband was beaten and warned that she had ‘messed with the wrong person.’ They’ve lost everything: their home, their jobs, and their peace of mind,” Mrs. Shodunke said.

Adding to the betrayal, the whistleblowers were abruptly dismissed from their jobs under the guise of downsizing.

“After years of loyal service, this is how we were repaid. We were left to fend for ourselves, with no income and no protection,” she lamented.

Now living in fear, Mrs. Shodunke and her family will now have to also go into hiding. “I don’t feel safe anywhere. I’ve had to uproot my children and leave everything behind. I don’t know where Olasunkanmi Akinbobola or Ijeoma are, but I can only hope they’re alive.”

Through tears, she asked a poignant question: “Is this how we lose good people? People who stood for integrity and courage are now being treated like criminals. How can we build a nation where doing the right thing could cost you your life?”