₦airaland Forum

Panel indicts ex-Gov Obaseki, LG chairmen, PDP leaders for alleged mismanage of N96bn Council fund.

The administrative panel of inquiry set up by the Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo to investigate the financial accounts of the impeached 18 Local Government Chairmen in the state between September 4, 2023 and November, 2024 has allegedly indicted the immediate past Governor of the State, Godwin Obaseki.

DAILY POST reports that a statement made available to newsmen on Sunday by Fred Itua, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor also allegedly indicted some local government chairmen, leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, among others.

The chairman of the panel, Solomon Imohiosen while submitting the report to Governor Monday Okpebholo, alleged that they were indicted for either mismanaging and/or diverting to private accounts, the sum of N95,080,676,687.86, being amount received from the Joint Allocation Account Committee, JAAC, by the 18 Local Government Area Chairmen for the period under review.

Imohiosen listed some of the indicted persons to include the embattled chairman of Orhionmwon Local Government, Newman Ugiagbe who is also the State chairman of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria, ALGON.

Others are Ahonsi Ogiegbaen Osifo, Eric Agbonmwanre, Abraham Burma and Dickson Imasogie Notiemwenmwan.

He alleged that the ALGON chairman used his hotel, the Demarriots Hotels Limited in collusion with others to loot Local Government funds.

He further alleged that findings and forensic investigations uncovered that the N96 billion was either mismanaged and/or diverted to private accounts.

According to him, the panel observed that N95,080,676,687.86 was received from the Joint Allocation Account Committee, JAAC, by the 18 Local Government Area Chairmen for the period under investigation. However, the funds were not judiciously utilized as no meaningful projects were on the ground to justify the amount received.

“The panel established a case of fraudulent diversion of Local Government funds to political godfathers in the state. It was discovered that over N10,433 658,452.00 billion was fraudulently siphoned, using the pseudo name, “Security, Environment and Training”.

“The 18 Local Government Area Chairmen contributed the amount to the account, using it as a conduit pipe to drain government resources, as monies were transferred from there to various individuals and companies.

“The panel’s investigation uncovered significant irregularities in the financial activities of the 18 Local Governments Councils. The recommendations outlined in the report aim to address these issues and promote transparency and accountability in the Local Governments finances.

“The report indicted former ALGON chairman, Oghomwen Newman Ugiagbe, who used his hotel, Demarriots Hotels Limited, Ahonsi Ogiegbaen Osifo, Eric Agbonmwanre, Abraham Burma and Dickson Imasogie Notiemwenmwan to loot Local Government funds”, he alleged.

Imohiosen, however, noted that the panel faced different challenges during the course of the assignment, which included late submission of financial records by various Local Government Councils, incomplete submission of records.

Other challenges, he listed are deliberate obstruction of the investigation by Council personnel who failed to comply on time, but brought hefty sacks as an after-thought to dazzle panel members.

In his remarks after receiving the committee’s report, Governor Okpebholo vowed that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, would prosecute those indicted for allegedly looting the Local Government treasuries, running into over N95 billion.

Okpebholo, who said, he would personally petition the EFCC on the findings of the report for immediate prosecution, assured that he would go after those indicted to retrieve what they have stolen from the people of Edo State.

“I want to thank you for a job well done. I carefully listened to the submission of the report. The truth is that the administration of former governor Godwin Obaseki took Edo people for granted. They took everything belonging to Edo people and channeled it for their personal gains.

“We thank God for helping us to change the narrative to benefit Edo people. We also thank the President of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, because without his support, we will not be witnessing the kind of development we are experiencing in Edo today.

“A lot has happened. The Peoples Democratic Party looted the treasury of the Local Governments and stole our collective patrimony, and nobody went after them or took action. This time, things are different. We will go after them and retrieve what they have stolen from Edo people.

“They will be made to pay for it. I will personally take this document to the EFCC and ensure that justice is done for this wrong done to Edo people.

“Besides the impeached Local Government Chairmen who were indicted by the report, former governor Godwin Obaseki, leaders of the factional Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), among others, were also fingered.

“The days of financial recklessness and lack of transparency in public office were long over, as “Nigerians need to start demanding accountability from elected public office holders. This is the only way to fight corruption and ensure development”, he said.

DAILY POST recalls that Governor Okpebholo had on December 18, 2024 set up the Administrative Panel of Enquiry to investigate the financial dealings of the impeached 18 Local Government Chairmen in Edo State.

Source: https://dailypost.ng/2025/02/16/panel-indicts-ex-gov-obaseki-lg-chairmen-pdp-leaders-for-alleged-mismanage-of-n96bn-council-fund/

Hmmm

inec should deregister PDP as a political party

Lol

🤣🤣🤣😆😆

I knew that the present administrator will be on his case. Good luck to him.

Mumu Oshiomole and Inec Elect Governor, can him pronounce the figure given to him . I feel for my dear state , because I know the tribunal will not be allow to give the rightful owner is victory ✌️….

Jones4190:
inec should deregister PDP as a political party

Look how stup!d you sound . If Inec should deregister PDP, what happens to the useless Apc ? That have use your unborn children to borrowed money

Obaseki that behaves like commando that year has been runnings helter skelter since his tenure ended as a governor hope. This Life enh na turn by turn o, nobody knows tomorrow

ok
CHECK MY SIGNATURE AND GROW YOUR BUSINESS TODAY.

Jones4190:
inec should deregister PDP as a political party

if they deregister PDP what will happen to APC

This is normal na

Yet, Peter obi and his retards supported him running away! This country, the eastern part is the problem, and they will always suffer for it!

Lol, I know they'll try but all these are allegations and it's invalid.

Greenlandz:
Obaseki that behaves like commando that year has been runnings helter skelter since his tenure ended as a governor hope. This Life enh na turn by turn o, nobody knows tomorrow

Honestly, I knew he would have problems when they walked him out of the INEC offices and he was looking so defeated and powerless.

He is yet to return to Benin after his tenure (which we all knew would happen), I actually expected him to be in Lagos by now, Godwin is apparently still in the US all this while, the fear of EFCC is the beginning of wisdom.

Come and drag artefacts now Nogheghase, ohionba.

Jones4190:
inec should deregister PDP as a political party

And register blood sucking ZoneB party APC?

When court remove the current governor with anoda, dem go still probe am and nothing go happen. Na Naija we dey

What did you expect? It certainly would be so.
Panels must be set up to prove the previous administrations, as is the practice. This way, supporters would see them as saints and new messiahs.

Meanwhile the same new government would embark on a systematic and well calculated embezzlement of public funds in their tenure.

We are awaiting the courts.

Chai! This Life ehn, Just dey Humble ooo.
See as dem dey Drag Obaseki like Tiger Generator.
Obaseki don Japa because he know say gbege don shele.

If Okpebolo reason like Obaseki, he go begin destroy Obaseki Family house come dey claim say Road pass there

Obaseki is ugly both in and out

APC oyeeee! So now that they know that they are definitely going to loose out at the tribunal, they want to blackmail Obaseki hoping Ighodalo will withdraw his case at the tribunal? Nigerian politics is the devil's game

Eboski:
Mumu Oshiomole and Inec Elect Governor, can him pronounce the figure given to him . I feel for my dear state , because I know the tribunal will not be allow to give the rightful owner is victory ✌️….

Okpebholo is the rightful winner

eventainment:
Lol, I know they'll try but all these are allegations and it's invalid.

How is it invalid

Khallicopyro:
APC oyeeee! So now that they know that they are definitely going to loose out at the tribunal, they want to blackmail Obaseki hoping Ighodalo will withdraw his case at the tribunal? Nigerian politics is the devil's game

The tribunal case is dead

Jones4190:
inec should deregister PDP as a political party

So you are believing propaganda party Apc rules with lies

Obaseki remain the best governor that have rule Edo state

See iron bender sorry INEC select that has not speak in public for once to tell the public in detail what are his plans and how he intends to fulfils his vision in government is spreading lies in an attempt to commissions Gov. Obaseki’s project to mark 100 days in office.
May God Edo people from the hands of this clown and the thugs he has brought back to the streets of Benin harassing innocent traders and motorists before his shot stay at Dennis Osadebe Avenue end.

Khallicopyro:
APC oyeeee! So now that they know that they are definitely going to loose out at the tribunal, they want to blackmail Obaseki hoping Ighodalo will withdraw his case at the tribunal? Nigerian politics is the devil's game

Like how Obi won in the tribunal. Don't go and have heart attack cos Okpeboho is hear to stay for at least four years. Asue has no case. He was among the people who defrauded Edo state through Afri invest.

Who set up the panel, what was the yardstick and criteria used in setting up the panel?
Bunch of jokers.

Greenlandz:
Obaseki that behaves like commando that year has been runnings helter skelter since his tenure ended as a governor hope. This Life enh na turn by turn o, nobody knows tomorrow

Shey you are the one chasing him.. oga I too know

aswani:
Honestly, I knew he would have problems when they walked him out of the INEC offices and he was looking so defeated and powerless.

He is yet to return to Benin after his tenure (which we all knew would happen), I actually expected him to be in Lagos by now, Godwin is apparently still in the US all this while, the fear of EFCC is the beginning of wisdom.

Come and drag artefacts now Nogheghase, ohionba.

Spokeman of Efcc Weldon