With less than 11 days until outgoing Governor Godwin Obaseki hands over to Governor-elect Sen. Monday Okpebholo, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has detained the Edo State Accountant General, Mr. Julius O. Anelu, along with four other officials, all reported to be signatories on state government accounts.
The five officials, detained on Thursday, are being held at the EFCC’s Benin office.
Sources indicate that the arrests may be an effort to prevent last-minute withdrawals from state accounts following a budget reportedly passed by the Edo State House of Assembly just two weeks prior to the new administration’s inauguration.
The detention has reportedly impacted government operations, leaving the state unable to fulfill payments for civil servants, pensions, and other obligations.
Key payments for security and other statutory duties have also been affected.
According to sources, the EFCC plans to hold the detained officials until November 12, when the outgoing administration’s term ends.
Attempts to confirm further details from EFCC’s Edo spokesman, Williams Oseghale, were redirected to the agency’s Public Relations Officer, Dele Oyewale, who has yet to respond to text inquiries at the time of this report.
