From Joseph Ebi Kanjo, Benin

The Governor Monday Okpebholo-led government of Edo State is set to prosecute former Governor Godwin Obaseki, some PDP leaders in the state and former local government chairmen allegedly indicted for “looting the local government treasuries, running into over N95 billions.

This was contained in a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Fred Itua and made available to newsmen in Benin on Sunday.

According to the statement, the governor made the revelation when he received the report of the Administrative Panel of Enquiry set up to investigate the financial dealings of the “impeached 18 Local Government Chairmen in Edo State from 4th September, 2023 to November, 2024.

Recall that after taking the baton of leadership on September 12, 2024, the Okpebholo-led Edo State Government on the 18th of December, 2024, set up an Administrative Panel of Enquiry to investigate the financial dealings of the 18 local government chairmen who were allegedly impeached.

Receiving the report in the statement, the governor noted that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will prosecute all those involved in the alleged crime.

Okpebholo, while expressing satisfaction with the committee’s manner of professionalism, declared that the days of financial recklessness and lack of transparency in public office were long over.

He added: “Nigerians need to start demanding accountability from elected public office holders.”

He further stressed that “it was the only way to fight corruption and ensure development.”

The Governor, while expressing dismay at the findings of the report, vowed to petition the EFCC on the findings of the report for immediate prosecution

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 the Edo people for granted. They took everything belonging to Edo people and channeled it for their personal 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 patrimony, 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, Solomon Imohiosen, while submitting the report and recommendations Okpebholo, 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 was received from the Joint Allocation Account Committee (JAAC) by the 18 Local Government Area Chairman for the period investigated.

The panel, 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 pseudonym, “Security, Environment and Training.”

The panel report added that the 18 Local Government Area Chairman contributed to the account, using it as a conduit pipe to drain government resources, as money was transferred from there to various individuals and companies.

The panel outlined some challenges faced 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.”