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Less than twelve days away from the final handing-over exercise in Edo State, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has allegedly arrested all signatories to the State Government’s accounts.
Tribune Online gathered that the move was to ground the outgoing government of Governor Godwin Obaseki until the handover of government on November 12 to the incoming administration of Senator Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC), winner of the September 21, 2024 governorship election in the state.
Sources within the EFCC and the office of the Accountant General, who pleaded anonymity, disclosed that five Edo State Government officials, including the Accountant General, Julius Anelu, were picked up on Thursday evening and taken to the Benin office of the anti-graft agency.
The arrested government officials were said to have been invited for a briefing and were subsequently detained.
With the arrest, government activities, the source disclosed, had been halted as the state government would not be able to access any government funds as the signatories to various government accounts are currently with the anti-graft commission.
The state government, the sources added, would not be able to pay emoluments due to civil servants, pensions, and other public servants, throwing the state into chaos. Other statutory payments such as security bills and other obligations are also affected.
Tribune Online also gathered that the arrested officials might be kept in custody till November 12, when the transition processes will be completed.
When contacted for confirmation, EFCC spokesman in Edo State, Williams Oseghale, simply directed our reporter to the Commission’s spokesman, Dele Oyewale.
When contacted on the phone, Oyewale replied through a Short Messaging Service (SMS), asking our correspondent to send a text message.
Tribune Online sent messages to both Oyewale’s WhatsApp numbers and his regular phone SMS platform for confirmation of the information.
As of the time of filling this report, Oyewale has yet to respond.
A source close to the EFCC also confirmed to Tribune Online on Friday that “the Accountant General and two others are in custody.”
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