By Suleiman Anyalewechi
The Edo state authorities have signaled its intentions of seeking the assistance of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC ,in prosecuting former Governor Godwin Obaseki, and the suspended chairmen of the 18 local councils of the state over alleged mismanagement of funds in excess of 96 billion.
A statement from the Governor’s media aide ,Fred Itua on Sunday February ,16 ,2025 indicated that Governor Monday Okpebholo ,made this know at the weekend ,while receiving the final report of the Administrative Panel Inquiry set up to look into the accounts of the state’s Local Government Areas.
The Source reports that ,the state Governor ,had on December 18,2024 ,instituted a panel to investigate ,the financial records of the councils ,amidst allegations of financial malfeasance.
The panel was empowered to examine the financial books of the councils from December 4,2023 ,when they came on board ,to November 2024
They were suspended on December 15, 2024 .
The suspended ,council officials are of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP extraction, while Governor Okpebholo is of the rival All Progressive Congress APC .
According to the Governor’s spokesperson, the panel’s findings ,revealed that about N 96 billion council funds ,were either mismanaged and or outrightly diverted to individuals accounts .
” The panel’s investigation uncovered significant irregularities in the financial activities of the 18 Local Government Areas .
The recommendation outlined in the report aim to address these issues and promote transparency and accountability in the Local Government finances” the statement quoted the Solomon Imohiosen ,the chairman of the panel as saying.
The panel’s report,further indicated that ,a total sum of N 95 billion ,was received from the Federation Allocation by the councils within period under review ,through the Joint Allocation Account Committee JAAC .
But the Panel ,according to the statement noted that the huge sum was not judiciously applied ,as there are no visible projects on the ground to justify the amount.
“The panel confirmed fraudulent diversions of Local Government funds to political godfathers in the state ,with over N10 billion sighoned,using pseudo name ” Security Environment and Training” the Government statement noted.
The 18 council chairmen were said to have collectively contributed about N 800 million monthly to the nebulous subhead ,which was thereafter transferred to the private accounts of some party officials and political godfathers in the state.
Among those indicted by the panel are former Governor Obaseki,the suspended council chairmen ,top PDP stalwarts and other stakeholders.
According to the Governor’s media aide , the Edo state Government ,will in the days ahead petition the EFCC over the shocking discovery ,with a view to seeking its assistance in recovering the alleged missing funds .
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