Okpebholo panel alleges massive fraud in execution of projects by Obaseki govt

The Edo State Assets Verification Committee set up by Governor Monday Okpebholo said it has uncovered massive fraud in the execution of projects by the immediate past government of Godwin Obaseki.

DAILY POST reports that the committee disclosed this at a press briefing to avail members of the public of its interim findings on some of the assets so far verified.

Chairman of the committee, Dr. Ernest Afolabi Umakhihe, who addressed the press, listed some of the projects where fraud was allegedly discovered as Radisson Hotel, Edo State Oil Palm Project and Edo State Information Communication Technology Agency, ICTA, among others.

Umakhihe said the transactions on the Radisson Hotel project leave so much to be desired.

According to him, the Radisson Hotel project was initiated by the State Government by sourcing over N17.5 billion from the Stock Market, and the sum of N2 billion was paid for the acquisition of land.

He noted that just before the exit of the immediate past administration, the ownership changed, leaving Edo State, the core investor, with just 20 percent ownership.

Umakhihe said the state government must assume its prime position as the core investor and owner of the Radisson Hotel.

He added that the committee would avail members of the public more details in its final report.

The committee, according to him, also
observed that some agencies were created by the immediate past administration to execute some specific interest-based projects.

Umakhihe stated that the agencies reported directly to the governor, noting that information about the development is not readily available.

The committee chairman, who listed the Edo State Oil Palm Project Office as one of such agencies, alleged that the opaque approach necessitated the use of consultants with huge financial commitments expended by the past government.

Speaking on the Edo State Information Communication Technology Agency, ICTA, he alleged that the Greenfields Consultancy and Allied Services Limited and Greenzone Technologies took over the role of the ICTA in engaging contractors and vendors for EDSG Technology projects.

He claimed that they were in charge of identifying projects to be executed and selecting the vendors to execute them, noting that several bogus claims were replete in the sector.

“Imagine EDSG committing to paying over N5 billion for cyber security software license for the EdoGov platform for just three years starting from 2023 to 2025.

“Out of this sum, N1.7 billion has already been paid by the immediate past government.

“These are just some of the snippets of what we have unravelled. The job of the committee is still huge,” he said.

Umakhihe said when the committee resume sitting on January 6, 2025, it would look at other critical sectors of the state.

He listed the critical sectors to include the housing sector, education (SUBEB and EDOBEST), Ministry of Environment, College of Health Sciences and Technology, College of Nursing Sciences, and Ministry of Health.

He also listed all agricultural projects including grants from donor agencies, Edo Oil Palm Project, EDSOGPADEC, MOWAA, Edo Electrification Agency, sale of shares in BUA Cement, and the modular refinery project, among others.

Umakhihe expressed optimism that with a commitment to details, the committee would come out with a comprehensive report on the state’s assets and liabilities that would guide the Okpebholo government in making informed decisions.