Politics
Edo Pitches EFFC Against Obaseki, PDP Leaders In N96bn LG Fraud
Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has revealed that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will prosecute the former governor Godwin Obaseki and some of the recently impeached Edo State Local Government chairmen.
He made the declaration over the weekend, explaining that they were indicted for looting the Local Government treasuries, running into over N95 billions.
Gov Okpebholo made the remarks when he received the report of the Administrative Panel of Enquiry set up on the 18th of December, 2024 to investigate the financial dealings of the impeached 18 Local Government Chairmen in Edo State from 4th September, 2023 to November, 2024.
He disclosed that besides the impeached Local Government Chairmen who were indicted by the report, former governor Godwin Obaseki, leaders of the factional Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), among others, were also fingered.
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Expressing satisfaction with the committee for the professionalism with which it carried out its duty, Gov Okpebholo said, the days of financial recklessness and lack of transparency in public office were long over, as “Nigerians need to start demanding accountability from elected public office holders”, stressing that “it was the only way to fight corruption and ensure development.”
He expressed dismay at the findings of the report that implicated the impeached 18 Local Government Chairmen, vowed to petition the EFCC on the findings of the report for immediate prosecution.
Gov Okpebholo said, “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 belonging to Edo people and channeled it for their personnel gains.
“We thank God for helping us to change the narrative to benefit Edo people. We also thank the President of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, because without his support, we will not be witnessing the kind of development we are experiencing in Edo today.
“A lot has happened. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) looted the treasury of the Local Governments and stole our collective partrimony, 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 Edo people.
“They will be made to pay for it. I will personally take this document to the EFCC and ensure that justice is done for this wrong done to Edo people.”
Earlier, Chairman of the panel, Barr. Solomon Imohiosen, noted that findings and forensic investigations uncovered that huge sums amounting to N96 billion was either mismanaged and/or diverted to private accounts.
The panel observed that over N95 billion (N95,080,676,687.86) was received from the Joint Allocation Account Committee (JAAC) by the 18 Local Government Area Chairmen for the period investigated.
It, however, reported that the funds were not judiciously utilized as no meaningful projects were on the ground to justify the amount received.
Confirming fraudulent diversion of Local Government funds to political godfathers in the State, the panel reported that over N10 (10,433 658,452.00) was fraudulently siphoned, using the pseudo name, “Security, Environment and Training”, saying that the 18 Local Government Area Chairmen contributed to the account, using it as a conduit pipe to drain government resources, as money were transferred from there to various individuals and companies.
The panel, he added, faced different challenges during the course of the assignment, which included late submission of financial records by various Local Government Councils, incomplete submission of records, deliberate obstruction of the investigation by Council personnel who failed to comply on time, but brought hefty sacks as an after-thought to dazzle panel members.
“The panel’s investigation uncovered significant irregularities in the financial activities of the 18 Local Governments Councils. The recommendations outlined in the report aim to address these issues and promote transparency and accountability in the Local Governments finances.”
He pointed out that the report indicted former ALGON chairman, Oghomwen Newman Ugiagbe, who used his hotel, Demarriots Hotels Limited, Ahonsi Ogiegbaen Osifo, Eric Agbonmwanre, Abraham Burma and Dickson Imasogie Notiemwenmwan to loot Local Government funds.
A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has cautioned Barrister Kenneth Okonkwo against making comments capable of undermining former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, warning that such remarks could threaten the party’s unity ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Eze was reacting to recent remarks by Okonkwo, who reportedly suggested that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar had no alternative but to accept Amaechi as his running mate.
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He described the statement as “unfortunate, insulting and counterproductive,” saying it could negatively affect public perception of both Atiku and Amaechi.
According to Eze, Atiku’s long political career demonstrates that he is fully capable of making independent decisions on critical political matters without being influenced or compelled.
“Anyone who has followed Atiku Abubakar’s political journey knows that he has a mind of his own and is fully capable of taking decisions on matters of this nature,” Eze said.
The ADC stalwart argued that portraying Amaechi as an imposed choice diminishes the former Rivers State governor’s political achievements and contributions to Nigeria’s democratic development.
He highlighted Amaechi’s political record, noting that he served as Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, two-term governor of Rivers State, Minister of Transportation, and presidential aspirant, describing him as one of Nigeria’s most experienced political figures.
Eze also recalled that Amaechi emerged second to President Bola Tinubu during the 2023 All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primary and later finished as runner-up to Atiku Abubakar in the ADC presidential primary.
According to him, Amaechi’s emergence as the party’s vice-presidential candidate should be seen as a strategic advantage rather than an imposition.
“Amaechi’s personality, political experience and national appeal add significant value to the ADC presidential ticket,” he stated.
The former publicity secretary of the defunct New Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP) further advised Okonkwo to improve his communication style by learning from individuals with proven expertise in political messaging.
Calling for unity within the opposition party, Eze urged ADC leaders, spokespersons and supporters to avoid comments capable of creating unnecessary controversy or weakening the party’s collective resolve ahead of the 2027 elections.
“Our focus should remain on building a united front. Internal disagreements should not distract us from our collective objective of providing Nigerians with a credible alternative,” he said.
He added: “As things stand, we have a common objective. We need unity of purpose and must avoid comments that could weaken our collective resolve. Responsible communication and party cohesion remain essential to the success of the ADC in the forthcoming elections.”
The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) for the 2027 general election, Prince Adewole Adebayo, has launched a fresh attack on the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing the Muslim-Muslim ticket of President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima as a political strategy aimed at deceiving Nigerians.
Speaking during an interview on Arise Television’s Morning Show, Adebayo argued that the 2023 presidential ticket was built on religious sentiment rather than competence, insisting that Nigerians are now more interested in electing leaders who can deliver justice, good governance and economic prosperity.
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According to him, the APC’s same-faith ticket has failed to meet the expectations of many Nigerians, including those who supported it because of the candidates’ religious affiliation.
“There is nothing like the Muslim-Muslim ticket. Even when the contraption was brought up four years ago and I was in Kano, I was asked the same question while meeting with the Ulamas.
“I told them that if you are hoping for a Muslim-Muslim ticket in President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima, you will be lucky to even have a single Muslim out of the two.”
Adebayo maintained that leadership in Islam is defined by justice and competence, not by a leader’s religious identity, describing the Tinubu-Shettima administration as a “zero-zero ticket.”
“It turned out now that it’s not a Muslim-Muslim ticket. From the point of view of Muslims in Nigeria, it is a zero-zero ticket because in Islam, what is expected of a leader in Islamic jurisprudence is not the religion of that leader but justice.”
The SDP flagbearer added that Islamic teachings encourage the appointment of only qualified and capable individuals to positions of responsibility.
“The reason why Muslims get involved in politics is to have a just society, and there are guidelines in Islamic jurisprudence regarding politics. In Islam, it is expected that if you are a good Muslim, you do not give public office or responsibility to anyone who is not fit for that.”
He further alleged that the Muslim-Muslim ticket was introduced to manipulate voters through religion instead of presenting credible leadership.
“The whole concept from the beginning was just to defraud the populace by using religious sentiment. What the North and all Nigerians are looking for is a righteous leader, no matter the person.”
Adebayo also criticised the current administration over the country’s socio-economic challenges, arguing that the religious composition of the presidency has not translated into justice or improved living conditions.
He referenced former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, saying even one of the prominent advocates of the Muslim-Muslim ticket has recently been seeking justice.
“So when you say you are looking for a Muslim-Muslim ticket and there is no justice anywhere, even one of the proponents, El-Rufai, who was celebrating it, he and his family are now crying for justice. That is the biggest irony you can have.”
He concluded that Nigerians ahead of the 2027 general election are more concerned about competent leadership, fairness and better governance than the religious background of presidential candidates.
The Ebonyi State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called for a thorough investigation into an incident involving security personnel attached to the convoy of Governor Francis Nwifuru following the circulation of a viral video on social media.
The video purportedly shows a confrontation between members of the governor’s convoy and occupants of a civilian vehicle along the Centenary City–Chiboy Motors axis of the Afikpo-Abakaliki Road.
According to available information, the incident occurred after a Toyota Camry reportedly collided with a motorcycle rider attached to the governor’s convoy, leaving the rider injured. The ensuing confrontation allegedly resulted in damage to the civilian vehicle.
SEE MORE: Nwifuru Suspends Commissioners, Perm Sec, Exec Secs
Reacting to the development, the PDP’s State Publicity Secretary, Prince Darlington Peter Onwe, called on the Ebonyi State Police Command and the Department of State Services (DSS) to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident.
He urged security agencies to identify and interview those involved and determine the circumstances surrounding the confrontation.
The party also called on the Ebonyi State Government to provide clarification on the incident and disclose the identity and conduct of the security personnel involved.
In addition, the PDP urged relevant authorities to review the operational procedures and rules of engagement for security personnel attached to official convoys to ensure the safety of other road users.
Onwe said the party believes the public deserves a full account of what transpired and urged eyewitnesses and other persons with relevant information to cooperate with investigators.
Responding to the controversy, the Special Assistant to the Governor on New Media, Leo Ekene Oketa, said “the viral video captured only part of the incident and did not present the complete sequence of events.”
He appealed to the public “to refrain from drawing conclusions until all the facts have been established.”
Oketa explained that official convoys, like ambulances, fire service vehicles and other emergency responders, are required to move swiftly in the interest of public safety and national security.
He noted that motorists are expected to comply with lawful traffic directives issued by police officers and convoy personnel to ensure the safe movement of official convoys and prevent accidents.
According to him, “Governor Francis Nwifuru remains committed to professionalism, respect for the rule of law and the protection of lives.”
He added that the circumstances surrounding the incident were being reviewed and urged road users “to remain patient, obey lawful traffic instructions and cooperate with emergency and security personnel in the interest of public safety.”
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