EFCC invites suspended Edo LG chairpersons over alleged misappropriation of funds

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has reportedly invited all the suspended chairpersons of the 18 Local Government Areas in Edo State.

According to TheCable, a source in the EFCC said governor Monday Okpebholo submitted a petition to the commission, accusing the local government chairpersons of not paying workers’ salaries for two months.

The insider said the petition also alleged that the chairpersons diverted the funds meant for workers’ salaries for October and November for unknown purposes.

The source said the LG chairs were invited for questioning based on the governor’s petition, adding that nine out of the 18 of them were at the Benin zonal office of the EFCC on Thursday for questioning.

He said the remaining nine suspended LG bosses will be at the EFCC office on Friday.

“The new governor wrote a petition to us, alleging that all 18 local government chairmen failed to pay their workers’ salaries for October and November, and that the funds meant for these payments were allegedly diverted,” the source told TheCable.

“On the basis of that, we invited the 18 local government chairmen to our office. Nine of them came forward today to speak.

“As we are talking, they are still being quizzed by our investigator. The last nine will come tomorrow. We need to remind them that they need to do a thorough job.

“We have opened up investigation into the allegations. You know, as with every investigation, we have just started work. We cannot say this or that.

“But it’s alright to say that we have started work and are making progress.”

When contacted for comments, Dele Oyewale, the EFCC spokesperson, confirmed to TheCable that the LGA chairmen have been invited by the commission but declined to give details.

On Tuesday, the Edo house assembly suspended the chairpersons and their deputies for two months over alleged gross misconduct.

Blessing Agbebaku, the speaker of the house, said the governor had written a petition to the assembly regarding the chairpersons’ refusal to submit the financial records of their councils to the state government.

Agbebaku said the governor described the action of the chairmen as an act of insubordination and gross misconduct, and requested the house of assembly to look into the matter.