••EFCC Petition Imminent as Governor Vows to Recover Stolen Funds
By Edward Benjamin, Benin, Edo
Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has dropped a bombshell, alleging that former Governor Godwin Obaseki, leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the 18 recently impeached local government chairmen are responsible for the misappropriation of over ₦96 billion in local government funds. Okpebholo made the accusation while receiving the report of the Administrative Panel of Enquiry, tasked with investigating the financial activities of the local government councils between September 2023 and November 2024.
The governor expressed dismay at the panel’s findings, vowing to petition the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for immediate prosecution of those implicated. He stated that the report confirms widespread mismanagement of public funds under the previous administration, emphasizing that the era of financial recklessness is over. “The administration of former Governor Godwin Obaseki took Edo people for granted,” Okpebholo declared, accusing them of channeling public funds for personal gain. He thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his support and vowed to retrieve the stolen funds.
Solomon Imohiosen, Chairman of the panel, revealed that forensic investigations uncovered significant financial irregularities. The 18 local government chairmen received over ₦95 billion from the Joint Allocation Account Committee (JAAC) during the period under review, but the panel found no corresponding projects to justify the expenditure. Over ₦10 billion was allegedly siphoned under the guise of “Security, Environment, and Training,” with the chairmen contributing to this account, which was then used to funnel money to individuals and companies.
Imohiosen detailed the challenges faced by the panel, including delayed and incomplete financial records, as well as deliberate obstruction by council personnel. He also named former ALGON Chairman, Oghomwen Newman Ugiagbe, and others, alleging that Ugiagbe used his hotel for financial misappropriation.
Former Governor Obaseki, however, dismissed the allegations as a desperate attempt to justify Okpebholo’s “unconstitutional attack” on elected council executives. Speaking through his aide, Crusoe Osagie, Obaseki argued that Okpebholo lacks supervisory authority over local governments and cannot lawfully investigate elected officials. He further pointed out that Okpebholo’s own election is being challenged at the tribunal.
Obaseki’s statement emphasized that he was never obsessed with controlling local government funds, unlike Okpebholo. He challenged Okpebholo to report any suspected financial infractions to the appropriate agencies, such as the EFCC and ICPC, rather than acting outside his constitutional powers. Obaseki maintained that he ran a transparent government and had no authority over local government funds during his eight years in office.
