Anti-crimes detain Edo state accountant-general over last-minute withdrawals
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has detained the Edo State Accountant General Julius Anelu, and two other government officials over suspicious withdrawals of sums of money by the outgoing Governor Godwin Obaseki’s administration.
Penpushing reports that the Accountant General and the two other yet-to-be-identified government officials were arrested in Edo State on Friday, and were said to have been grilled by officials of the commission.
The source, however, added that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is holding them in its facility in Edo State and may be moved to the agency’s South-South Zonal Office in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, for further interrogation.
Penpushing further reports that the source explained that the suspects are being investigated over an unusually swift depletion of the state’s derivation account weeks to the end of Obaseki’s tenure as Governor of the state.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was said to have taken an interest in the matter and the suspects after it learnt that out of N24.6 billion paid into the state’s derivation account, only about N14 billion was left within one week”.
Penpushing also reports that Dele Oyewale, spokesperson of the anti-crimes as at the time of filing this report was yet to issue any official statement on the development, nor either confirmed the arrest and interrogation of the suspects.
The Edo State Governor-elect, Monday Okpebholo, while preparing for his inauguration into office on November 12, 2024, has accused the outgoing Governor of last-minute borrowings and looting, and had equally called on all relevant agencies to investigate the allegations.
Penpushing reports that in response to the allegation the outgoing Governor denied, challenging Okpebholo who is set to take over from him in a couple of weeks, to back his allegations with proof.
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