Mopa ₦20m Fund Dispute: Leke Abejide Foundation Explains Account Conflict, Suspension of Withdrawals
Foundation says conflicting account details prompted precautionary action, insists it will not interfere in Mopa’s internal affairs
MOPA, Kogi State — The Leke Abejide Foundation (LAF) has explained that conflicting bank account details submitted for the disbursement of a ₦20 million community development fund for Mopa prompted its decision to suspend withdrawals and request the return of the money pending the resolution of the disagreement.
In an official statement addressing the controversy, the foundation said the measure was intended to protect the funds, maintain financial accountability and prevent its development intervention from becoming a source of further division within the community.
The clarification follows an ongoing dispute over the organisation considered appropriate to receive and administer the development allocation. The Mopa Traditional Council had earlier maintained that the donation was presented to the Mopa Development Association, while disputing the authority of a faction of the Mopa Welfare Society led by Abe to represent the entire community.
The foundation’s response offers its account of how the conflicting payment instructions emerged and why it decided to suspend withdrawals rather than proceed with the administration of the fund.
According to the statement signed by the Director-General of Leke Abejide Foundation, the ₦20 million allocation was intended for community development and not for the personal, political or sectional interests of any individual or association.
Foundation Explains Conflicting Account Details
The foundation disclosed that, as part of its community development empowerment programme across Yagba Federal Constituency, it requested bank account details from beneficiary communities to facilitate the disbursement of development funds.
In Mopa’s case, the account details of the Mopa Welfare Society were initially submitted as the designated account for the community’s allocation.
However, the foundation said another account was subsequently presented for the same fund, creating uncertainty over which account had been authorised to receive and administer the money.
It explained that the conflicting instructions raised concerns about accountability, community representation and the proper management of the allocation.
The foundation maintained that it did not initiate or participate in the disagreement over Mopa’s leadership or administrative structure, adding that its involvement was limited to implementing the community development programme.
The statement did not identify the individuals or organisations responsible for submitting the competing account details. It also did not provide further particulars about the accounts or the process through which the competing instructions were received.
June 5 Directive Suspended Withdrawals
A central part of the foundation’s clarification concerns a communication dated June 5, 2026, which it said was formally sent to relevant members of the Mopa Welfare Society.
According to LAF, the communication directed that withdrawals from the ₦20 million fund be suspended and requested that the money be returned to the foundation’s designated account until the conflicting instructions were resolved.
The foundation said the directive was a precautionary administrative decision intended to safeguard the allocation and ensure that the money would not be administered under disputed circumstances.
It stressed that the action was not designed to undermine the Mopa Welfare Society, disregard its historical contributions to the community or transfer Mopa’s development entitlement to another association.
Rather, the foundation said it wanted the community to agree on a mutually acceptable and accountable arrangement for receiving and utilising the funds.
The statement did not specify whether the requested return of the money had been completed or establish the fund’s current location and status.
LAF Distances Abejide from Internal Community Dispute
The foundation also drew a distinction between Hon. Leke Abejide, the federal lawmaker, and the Leke Abejide Foundation, describing the latter as a philanthropic and humanitarian organisation focused on sustainable community development.
It said the foundation’s activities were guided by its developmental objectives, particularly those aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
According to the statement, neither Abejide nor the foundation intends to interfere in Mopa’s political, traditional, administrative or internal leadership affairs.
The organisation said it was unaware of the existing communal disagreements and leadership disputes before the conflicting account details were submitted.
While acknowledging the historical contributions of the Mopa Welfare Society to community development, the foundation said such recognition did not make it responsible for determining which association should exercise leadership or administrative authority over Mopa.
It maintained that questions of community representation should be resolved by Mopa’s recognised stakeholders rather than by an external philanthropic organisation.
The foundation added that it would not assume responsibility for settling internal disputes outside its humanitarian and sustainable development mandate.
Council’s Position and the Disputed Development Arrangement
The foundation’s statement comes after the Mopa Traditional Council issued a rejoinder disputing the legitimacy of the Abe-led Mopa Welfare Society faction and defending the decision to work with the Mopa Development Association on community development initiatives.
In its earlier response, the traditional council alleged that the faction had registered the Mopa Welfare Society name with the Corporate Affairs Commission without the broader community’s consent and that disagreements over leadership and community assets had resulted in litigation.
The council maintained that the Mopa Development Association received the donation from the Leke Abejide Foundation and said the traditional institution and residents had supported the commencement of a new community hospital project following the intervention.
It also called on the foundation to investigate how the disputed faction’s account details allegedly appeared in the payment schedule, despite what it described as an updated schedule presented during the cheque handover ceremony.
The foundation’s latest statement, however, does not declare either association the legitimate representative of Mopa. Instead, it says the conflicting account instructions created uncertainty over the appropriate recipient and management arrangement for the money.
The two statements therefore differ in emphasis. While the traditional council has defended the Mopa Development Association as its preferred partner for community development, the foundation has focused on the need for a clear and mutually acceptable framework before the fund can be administered.
The available statements do not provide a complete account of the competing organisations’ positions, the relevant court proceedings or the documentation behind the conflicting payment instructions.
Foundation Reaffirms Commitment to Accountability
LAF said its decision was guided by the principles of transparency, fairness, accountability and responsible management of development resources.
It argued that proceeding with the disbursement while questions remained over the authorised recipient could expose the programme to further disagreement and undermine confidence in the intervention.
The foundation maintained that the allocation belonged to the community’s development agenda and should produce measurable and sustainable benefits for residents.
It also reiterated its willingness to support Mopa’s development objectives once a clear, mutually agreed and accountable arrangement had been established.
The organisation urged stakeholders to avoid personalising the controversy, describing it as an administrative accountability issue rather than a contest over who controls the community.
It said sustainable development depended on peace, unity, mutual respect and collective responsibility, adding that its programmes across beneficiary communities would continue without prejudice, favouritism or interference in internal communal affairs.
Resolution Needed to Unlock Development Fund
The latest clarification places responsibility on Mopa’s recognised stakeholders to resolve the disagreement over the account authorised to receive and administer the ₦20 million allocation.
For the fund to move forward, the competing instructions must be reconciled and an arrangement acceptable to the relevant stakeholders established, in line with the foundation’s stated position.
The unresolved questions include the present status of the money, whether the requested return has been completed, and the process through which the community will agree on an authorised recipient.
The status of the proposed community hospital project and its relationship to the disputed allocation also remain important considerations, particularly following the traditional council’s statement that work had commenced on the project.
Until these matters are clarified, the foundation says it will maintain its position that accountability and an agreed administrative framework must come before the fund’s further utilisation.
The organisation concluded by reaffirming its commitment to supporting development in Mopa and across Yagba Federal Constituency, stressing that its interest lies in improving the welfare of communities rather than determining who exercises authority over them.
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