In a significant move days before the transfer of power in Edo State, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested the Accountant General, Mr. Julius O. Anelu, and four senior officials who are key signatories to the state’s accounts. The arrests occurred on October 31, 2024, with the officials currently held at the EFCC’s Benin office.
The EFCC reportedly intervened to prevent potential unauthorized withdrawals following the recent budget approval by the Edo State House of Assembly, just weeks before Governor Godwin Obaseki’s tenure ends on November 12. With less than two weeks until the scheduled handover to Governor-elect Sen. Monday Okpebholo, the situation has raised concerns over the stability of government operations.
According to insider reports, government functions have been disrupted, with the freezing of state accounts halting essential payments. As a result, salaries for civil servants, pensions for retirees, and funds for critical obligations, including security expenses, remain on hold.
A source close to the matter revealed that the EFCC intends to keep the detained officials until the handover is complete, adding further uncertainty to the state’s financial and operational activities in the interim.
The EFCC has yet to issue an official statement, and inquiries to its Edo State spokesman, Williams Oseghale, and its Public Relations Officer, Dele Oyewale, have gone unanswered.
Be First to Comment