Jane Otu, South South
DAILY COURIER – Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has vowed to petition the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) following the findings of an Administrative Panel of Enquiry that uncovered alleged mismanagement and diversion of ₦96 billion by the 18 impeached Local Government Chairmen and other top officials, including former Governor Godwin Obaseki.
The panel, set up on December 18, 2024, was tasked with investigating the financial dealings of the Local Government Chairmen from September 4, 2023, to November 2024. In its report submitted over the weekend, the panel revealed shocking details of financial irregularities, mismanagement, and fraudulent diversion of public funds.
The Chairman of the panel, Solomon Imohiosen, disclosed that forensic investigations revealed that ₦95 billion received from the Joint Allocation Account Committee (JAAC) by the 18 Local Government Chairmen was not judiciously utilized. According to the report, no meaningful projects were executed to justify the funds received during the period under review.
“The panel’s investigation uncovered significant irregularities in the financial activities of the 18 Local Government Councils. The recommendations outlined in the report aim to address these issues and promote transparency and accountability in Local Government finances,” Imohiosen stated.
The panel further alleged that over ₦10 billion was fraudulently siphoned through a pseudo account named “Security, Environment, and Training.” The account, reportedly used as a conduit pipe to drain government resources, received contributions from the 18 Local Government Chairmen, with funds transferred to various individuals and companies.
The report also implicated former Governor Godwin Obaseki and leaders of the factional Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the alleged fraud. It claimed that funds were diverted to political godfathers in the state, raising concerns about systemic corruption and mismanagement of public resources.
Governor Okpebholo, who received the report, expressed his commitment to ensuring accountability and transparency in the state’s financial management. He vowed to forward the panel’s findings to the EFCC for further investigation and prosecution of those implicated.
The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Fred Itua, in a statement on Sunday, reiterated the governor’s resolve to sanitize the Local Government system and restore public trust. “The governor is determined to ensure that those responsible for this brazen mismanagement of public funds are held accountable. The EFCC will be petitioned to take necessary action,” Itua said.
The panel’s findings have sparked widespread outrage, with many calling for comprehensive reforms in the Local Government system to prevent future occurrences. Civil society organizations and anti-corruption advocates have urged the state government to implement the panel’s recommendations and ensure that all indicted individuals face the full wrath of the law.
The report has also intensified political tensions in the state, with the opposition PDP dismissing the allegations as politically motivated. However, the governor’s administration has maintained that the investigation was conducted impartially and in the public interest.
As the EFCC prepares to take up the case, the people of Edo State await justice and accountability for the alleged mismanagement of ₦96 billion in public funds. The outcome of the investigation could have far-reaching implications for governance and financial management in the state.
