As the administration of Governor Godwin Obaseki comes to an end in Edo State, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested the Accountant-General of the state, Julius Anelu, and two other government officials.
The officials were said to be in custody of alleged huge withdrawals from the State’s derivation account.
The development came as Senator Monday Okpebholo, the Edo StatenGovernor-elect, accused the Obaseki administration “of last-minute borrowings and looting.”
Quoting an impeccable source in the EFCC, a popular newspaper reported that N24.6billion was paid into the government’s account, but that N10billion was withdrawn within one week after the money was deposited some weeks ago.
“We made some arrests of about two to three persons, including the Accountant General of the state. We have been investigating the Governor of the state, Godwin Obaseki, since 2022 but this latest arrest was as a result of some withdrawals from the state’s derivation account.
“The amount withdrawn were huge sums. For instance, about some weeks ago, N24.6bn was paid into that account. But in less than one week, about N14bn was remaining in the account. To save the state, we had to quickly move. We are not in any way doing that to ground the state activities,” said the source.
The EFCC is yet to officially react to the development as of the time of this report.
It had been reported in October that the reinstated deputy governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu raised the alarm over alleged plans by his principal, Governor Godwin Obaseki to steal money from the state treasury.
Shaibu had made this disclosure in a press briefing in Benin City, saying he had an offer of a financial reward to the tune of N1million to anyone who has information concerning alleged looting of government property as the administration winds down.
He added that he had evidence to back the alleged looting in some quarters and last-minute borrowing from financial institutions.
He had also called on the EFCC, the Department of State Services (DSS) and other relevant agencies to look into the alleged misappropriation of funds meant for projects in the ministry of roads and bridges, ongoing Radisson Hotel project and last-minute appointments by the outgoing administration.