Edo Council Chairmen Sacked Over N96B Fraud by Gov. Okpebholo
Tracy Ohovwore, Benin City
According to the report of the administrative panel of inquiry set up by Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo on December 18, 2024, to monitor the financial dealings of the impeached 18 local government chairmen in Edo from September 4, 2023, to November 2024, former Governor Godwin Obaseki and some leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state have been charged with over N96 billion local government fraud.
Okpebholo, the leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), disclosed that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) would prosecute some of the 18 recently impeached council chairmen for their lack of transparency in public funds and for looting their treasuries.
The governor commended the members of the administrative panel at the Government House in Benin for their professionalism in carrying out their duties while stating that the days of financial recklessness and deception were over.
Okpebholo states, “Nigerians need to start demanding accountability from elected public office holders. It is the only way to fight corruption and ensure development.
“I want to thank you for a job well done. I carefully listened to the submission of the report. The truth is that the administration of former Governor Godwin Obaseki took Edo people for granted. They took everything the Edo people owned and channeled it for their personal gains.
“We thank God for helping us to change the narrative to benefit the Edo people. We also thank the President of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, because, without his support, we would not be witnessing the kind of development we are experiencing in Edo State today.
“A lot has happened. The PDP leaders looted the treasuries of the local governments in Edo and stole our collective patrimony, and nobody went after them or took action. This time, things are different. We will go after them and retrieve what they have stolen from the Edo people. They will be made to pay for it. I will personally take this document to the EFCC and ensure justice is done for this wrong done to Edo people.”
The panel chairman, Solomon Imohiosen, submitted the report and recommendations to Okpebholo and informed that the whopping sum of N96 billion received from the Joint Allocation Account Committee (JAAC) by the 18 local government council chairmen was mismanaged and diverted to private accounts.
“The panel’s investigation uncovered significant irregularities in the financial activities of the 18 local governments councils in Edo.
“The recommendations outlined in the panel’s report aim to address the irregularities and promote transparency and accountability in the finances of Edo local government councils.” The chairman noted.
Imohiosen also stated that the report indicted Oghomwen Ugiagbe, a former chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), who used his hotel, Demarriots Hotels Limited, Ahonsi Ogiegbaen Osifo, Eric Agbonmwanre, Abraham Burma, and Dickson Notiemwenmwan to loot local government funds, which he described as unfortunate.
