According to Punch, The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has apprehended Edo State’s Accountant General, Julius Anelu, along with two other government officials. As of 7:30 PM on Friday, the individuals remained in EFCC custody due to alleged unauthorized withdrawals of significant amounts from the state’s account.
An EFCC source revealed that approximately N24.6 billion had been deposited into the state’s account, but within just one week, around N14 billion was reportedly missing. The source emphasized that the commission’s actions were intended to safeguard the state’s interests rather than disrupt its operations, contrary to some claims circulating.
“We made some arrests of about two to three persons, including the Accountant General of the state. We have been investigating the governor of the state, Godwin Obaseki, since 2022, but this latest arrest was as a result of some withdrawals from the state’s derivation account. The amounts withdrawn were huge sums. For instance, about some weeks ago, N24.6 billion was paid into that account. But in less than one week, about N14 billion was remaining in the account. To save the state, we had to quickly move. We are not in any way doing that to ground the state activities,” the source explained.
Attempts to reach Dele Oyewale, the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, for comments were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to phone calls or messages regarding the arrests.
The situation comes amid allegations from the Edo State governor-elect, Senator Monday Okpebholo, who accused the outgoing Obaseki administration of engaging in “last-minute borrowings and looting.” In a statement dated October 16, Okpebholo urged various authorities, including the EFCC, the police, and the Department of State Services, to investigate these serious claims.
These developments raise questions about financial governance in Edo State and the accountability of public officials, especially as the state prepares for a new administration. The EFCC’s ongoing investigations into the state’s financial transactions reflect a broader effort to address corruption and uphold integrity in governance across Nigeria.