THE Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo has unveiled a 14-man panel to probe the administration of the immediate past governor, Godwin Obaseki.
The panel named “State Assets Verification Committee” will be inaugurated on Tuesday, November 26 2024, at the Government House in Benin, the state capital.
This was disclosed in a statement released on Sunday, November 24, by the chief press secretary (CPS) to the governor, Fred Itua.
According to the statement, members of the committee include, Ernest Afolabi Umakhihe, chairman; Anslem Ojezua, deputy chairman; Kassim Afegbua, member; Patrick Ikhariale, member; Taiwo Akerele, member; Patrick Idiake, member; and Rasaq Bello-Osagie, member.
Others are; Fredrick Unopah, member; Frank Osumuede Edebor, secretary; Abdallah Eugenia, member; Patrick Obahiagbon, member; Kenny Okojie, member; Lyndsey Tes-Sorae, member; and Abass Braimoh, member.
The statement added that in furtherance of the governor’s initiative to set the state on the path of development and accountable leadership, the need to set up the probe panel has become very imperative.
“Despite repeated calls for a more holistic database of the assets and liabilities of the previous administration, the Godwin Obaseki-led government came up with very scanty and limited assets and liabilities of the state.
“In line with the governor’s campaign promise to ensure probity, accountability, and transparency in government and to deepen the governance process, a committee made up of respected sons and daughters from Edo State has to be constituted,” the government stated.
There have been rumours that the Edo State government may begin an investigation into the former administration.
On Friday, November 23, a committee set up to recover government assets said over 200 vehicles belonging to the state were missing.
The chairman of the committee, Kelly Okungbowa, informed journalists three of these vehicles had been found.
Okungbowa assured that the committee was committed to finding the missing government cars.
He claimed that in one of the three vehicles found, bags of garri and rice intended as palliatives from the federal government for the state’s citizens were found.
Okpebholo, a serving senator, was sworn in as the governor of Edo State on Tuesday, November 12, following his victory in the governorship election held in September.
The event comes two months after the All Progressives Congress (APC) clinched victory, securing the governorship position at the Dennis Osadebay House.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Okpebholo, the candidate of the APC, the winner of the governorship election conducted in Edo State on Saturday, September 21.
Okpebholo polled 291,667 votes to defeat his closest rival and the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Asue Ighodalo, who won 247,274 votes.
The Labour Party (LP) candidate, Olumide Akpata, garnered 22,763 in the election to occupy a distant third position.
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