Edo Govt Confirms Naija News Exclusive Story, Says EFCC Plans To Cripple Govt, Governance

The Edo State Government has confirmed the detention of the State Accountant General, and four others by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

This is coming 24 hours after Naija News had exclusively revealed that the EFCC arrested some Edo State government officials who are signatories to the state government accounts.

Sources disclosed on Friday that about five officials, including the Accountant General of Edo State, are being held at the Benin office of the anti-graft agency.

The sources revealed that the government officials were said to have been arrested on Thursday after they had been called in for briefing.

Confirming the arrest in a statement to Naija News on Saturday, Edo State Communication and Orientation, Chris Osa Nehikhare, said the anti-graft agency detained the officials to cripple governance in the state.

According to him, Edo State Government led by Governor Godwin Obaseki runs a transparent and accountable Government.

His statement read: “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), in a letter dated October 28, 2024, invited four officials from the Edo State Treasury Office, including the Accountant General, Julius Anelu, to its Benin Office.

“The letter of invitation, addressed to the Secretary to the State Government and titled “Loans and Agricultural Interventions Granted to Edo State Government from Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) from 2018 to date,” pertains to an agricultural facility that has since been repaid by the State Government.

“The government officers, including the State Accountant on Thursday, honoured the invitation as requested at the Benin Office of the EFCC to provide necessary answers as required by the EFCC.

“However, upon realizing that one of the invited officials was no longer a signatory to the government account, the EFCC released the officer and requested for the current signatory, whose name was not initially on the invitation letter. The said officer is now also being detained by the agency at Abuja , in addition to the others who were originally invited and honoured the invitation.

“The EFCC seems intent on crippling governance in Edo State and acting out a script that portends grave danger to democracy. The reason for the invitation of these civil servants is clear, contrary to the invitation letter is to keep them in EFCC custody till November 12, on the day of the termination of the tenure of this government.

“In fact, from Monday, government would have been grounded and will no longer be able to meet up with basic responsibilities and obligations.

“This devious action is most condemnable and reprehensible and we urge the EFCC to act responsibly in the interest of democracy, justice, peace and the wellbeing of Edo people and immediately release these government officials, and not throw Edo State into chaos.

“Edo State Government led by Governor Godwin Obaseki runs a transparent and accountable Government. This Government runs until November 12th, 2024. Unconstituitional actions should not be done to hinder its operations.”