Okpebholo, Obaseki Trade Tackles Over Alleged N96bn LG Fraud
A political rift has erupted in Edo State over an alleged fraud involving local government funds, with Governor Monday Okpebholo accusing his predecessor, Godwin Obaseki, and the recently impeached local government chairmen of mismanaging over N95 billion.
Governor Okpebholo revealed on the weekend that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) would prosecute the indicted local government chairmen. This came after the report of the Administrative Panel of Enquiry, set up in December 2024, investigated the financial activities of the impeached 18 local government chairmen who held office between September 2023 and November 2024.
The panel’s findings allege that large sums of money, amounting to N96 billion, were either mismanaged or diverted into private accounts. The report also implicated the former Governor, Godwin Obaseki, and leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for fraudulent activities.
Governor Okpebholo, in his response to the findings, expressed his dissatisfaction with the situation, calling it a clear example of financial mismanagement under the previous administration. He strongly condemned the lack of accountability in Edo’s previous government, pledging to ensure that justice would be served. Okpebholo made it clear that he would take the matter to the EFCC for further investigation and prosecution.
“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,” Okpebholo said. “They took everything belonging to Edo people and channeled it for their personal gains. 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.”
Okpebholo also expressed gratitude for the support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which he claimed has helped bring development to the state.
However, the former governor’s media adviser, Crusoe Osagie, was quick to rebut Okpebholo’s claims. He dismissed the allegations as an attempt to justify the unconstitutional actions taken against the elected local government officials. Osagie also questioned Okpebholo’s authority to investigate local government affairs, emphasizing that, unlike the governor, the impeached local government chairmen were democratically elected officials.
Osagie further criticized Okpebholo for dragging Obaseki into the accusations, arguing that the former governor never sought to control local government funds, unlike Okpebholo, who has been accused of overreaching into the autonomy of the local governments.
“Okpebholo appears to be completely oblivious of the fact that he does not have supervisory responsibility over the local governments, and can therefore not set up any investigation of government officials that are elected into office just like him,” Osagie stated.
He added that Okpebholo’s actions seemed driven by a personal agenda, with the outcome of the 2024 election still to be decided by a tribunal, which many believe could have been rigged.
The dispute is set to continue as both sides dig in their heels over accusations of corruption, governance, and authority.
