Edo State governor-elect, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has officially denied any involvement in the recent arrests of key Edo State officials, including the state’s Accountant-General, Julius Anelu, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Reports indicate that the EFCC took several high-ranking officials from the Edo State government into custody, primarily individuals who are signatories on state government accounts. Sources have confirmed that approximately five officials, including the Accountant General, are currently detained at the EFCC’s Benin office, where they are reportedly under investigation.
These state officials were allegedly arrested on Thursday after being summoned by the EFCC for what was described as a formal briefing. Senator Okpebholo has since clarified that the EFCC’s recent actions are, in fact, an independent move to prevent any last-minute efforts to misappropriate state funds by individuals within the outgoing administration under the leadership of Governor Godwin Obaseki.
In an official statement released by his media aide, Goodwill Inegbe, Okpebholo expressed his disappointment regarding accusations linking him to the EFCC’s investigation, describing such claims as misinformation spread by discontented members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), who are still grappling with the outcome of the September 21 governorship election.
The statement reads: “The attention of the Edo State governor-elect, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has been drawn to a misleading publication currently circulating on social media platforms, falsely associating him with the recent arrest of the Edo State Accountant-General, Mr. Julius Anelu, along with four other officials, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
“Our investigations have shown that this baseless publication, which is filled with unsubstantiated claims and lacks fundamental facts, has been orchestrated by members of the PDP and associates within the outgoing administration under Governor Obaseki.”
“The publication in question wrongfully accuses the governor-elect of using the EFCC as a tool to intimidate members of Governor Obaseki’s administration, particularly as his tenure approaches its official end on November 12.”
“The facts make it clear that members of the PDP, along with individuals associated with Governor Obaseki’s outgoing administration, are experiencing what appears to be severe post-election defeat trauma. This has seemingly driven them to respond irrationally, with unfounded claims and reactions.”
“The governor-elect, along with the general public, only learned about the arrest of Mr. Julius Anelu and other state officials through media reports. Based on available information, the EFCC’s intervention seems to be part of a preventive effort to avoid any last-minute withdrawals or unauthorized transactions from state accounts.”
“It is worth highlighting that, just over a week ago, we issued a public press release alerting both the public and relevant security agencies to ongoing allegations of looting and theft involving state funds and government properties at various locations, including the Government House in Benin City and across multiple ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) within the state.”