The investigation panel set up by Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, to look into the accounts of the 18 impeached Local Government Chairmen in the state from September 4, 2023, to November 2024, has reportedly accused the former Governor, Godwin Obaseki, of wrongdoing.
A statement shared with the press on Sunday by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, also claimed that some local government chairmen and leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were involved.
The panel’s chairperson, Solomon Imohiosen, who handed over the report to Governor Okpebholo, said the officials were accused of mismanaging or diverting N95,080,676,687.86, funds received from the Joint Allocation Account Committee (JAAC) for the 18 local government areas during the period under review.
Among those accused were the Chairman of Orhionmwon Local Government, Newman Ugiagbe, who also serves as the State Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), and others including Ahonsi Ogiegbaen Osifo, Eric Agbonmwanre, Abraham Burma, and Dickson Imasogie Notiemwenmwan.
The panel claimed Ugiagbe used his hotel, Demarriots Hotels Limited, in collaboration with others, to embezzle local government funds. Further investigations revealed that N96 billion was either misused or diverted to private accounts.
According to Imohiosen, the panel found that N95,080,676,687.86 was received from JAAC by the 18 local government chairmen but was not properly used. No significant projects were completed to show how the funds were spent.
The panel also uncovered that over N10 billion was fraudulently diverted under the name “Security, Environment and Training”. The funds were transferred to various individuals and companies, and the local government chairmen were accused of using this as a way to steal public money.
Imohiosen said the panel’s report recommended actions to address these issues and improve transparency in local government finances.
He also mentioned the difficulties the panel faced, such as delayed or incomplete financial records from local councils, as well as obstruction from council staff.
Governor Okpebholo, after receiving the report, promised that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) would take action against those accused of embezzling over N95 billion from the local governments. He said he would personally send the report to the EFCC for prosecution and vowed to recover the stolen money for the people of Edo State.
The Governor expressed his gratitude for the panel’s work and criticised the administration of former Governor Godwin Obaseki for allegedly taking advantage of the people of Edo State. He also thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his support, which has contributed to the development in the state.
Okpebholo accused the PDP of looting the local governments’ funds in the past but assured that this time, action would be taken. He promised that those responsible would be made to pay for their actions.
He further stressed that the days of financial mismanagement and lack of accountability in public office were over and that Nigerians must demand more from their elected officials to fight corruption and promote development.
