The Ondo State Public Complaints, Financial Crimes and Anti-Corruption Commission (SPFACC) has arrested a middle-aged man, identified as Tunde, over the alleged withdrawal and diversion of N59 million from his late father’s bank account.

The development came amid a disturbing family tragedy in which the deceased, his first wife and two of their children reportedly died within a week in August 2024 in Ore, Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State.

The commission’s investigation was said to have been triggered by a petition from the only surviving child of the deceased, who lives abroad and returned to Nigeria following the deaths of his father, stepmother and siblings.

According to a family source, the deceased died on August 11, 2024, while his first wife died three days later, and one of their children reportedly died on August 16, while the other, who was living in Ore, died on August 18.

The source said the deceased had two wives, with the first wife having three children for him, while the second wife had one child.

The only surviving child was said to be the one living abroad, who returned to Nigeria and subsequently sought to unravel the circumstances surrounding the deaths of his father, stepmother and siblings.

The source, however, said no official cause has been established for the deaths, which occurred within a short period.

Confirming the development, the Secretary of the SPFACC, Prof. Adewole Adeyeye, said the commission commenced investigation after the surviving family member discovered that N59 million belonging to his late father had been withdrawn from his bank account after his death.

Adeyeye said the suspect, identified as the son of the deceased’s second wife, was arrested alongside his mother.

According to him, the suspect admitted withdrawing the N59 million but denied any involvement in the deaths of his father, stepmother and half-siblings.

He said, “The man had two wives. The first wife had three children, while the second wife had one child.

“The man died on the 11th, the first wife died on the 14th, the first child died on the 16th, while the last child, who lived in Ore, died on the 18th. All the tragedies happened within one month.

“The only child who survived was the one living abroad. He returned and went to the bank, where he discovered that his late father had N59 million which was withdrawn after his death.

“He immediately briefed us and we swung into action. The culprit, who is the second wife’s son, and his mother have been arrested.”

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Adeyeye said the suspect confessed to withdrawing the money illegally but denied having any connection with the deaths.

He added that the deceased also left behind properties, including about four buildings, lock-up shops, a resort centre and plots of land, which the suspect allegedly sold.

The commission, he said, had so far recovered N10 million from the proceeds.

“It is a collective family property which was misappropriated by one person. We have therefore paid great attention to the family and are trying to settle the matter amicably, since it is a family matter,” he said.

The commission, however, said it had yet to establish any connection between the alleged diversion of the deceased’s assets and the deaths of the family members.

Adeyeye said the agency, under the leadership of its Chairman, Justice Williams Akin Akintoroye, would continue to investigate petitions involving alleged corruption and financial crimes, with a view to prosecuting offenders where necessary.