The arrest of Edo State’s Accountant General, Mr. Julius Anelu, and two other top officials, was carried out to save the state in view of “huge and suspicious transactions from the state treasured by the outgoing administration”.
According to a relaible source within the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the development was not to ground the activities of the state.
Last week, EFCC arrested the three government officials over alleged financial improprieties.
The source said: “Out of N24.6 billion paid into the government’s account, about N14 billion was left within one week after the money was deposited some weeks back., meaning about N10 billion has been withdrawn within five working days.
“The amounts withdrawn were huge sums. For instance, about some weeks ago, N24.6 billion was paid into that account. But in less than one week, about N14 billion was left in the account. To save the state, we had to quickly move in. We are not in any way doing that to ground the state activities, it is actually to save the state,.
“We have been investigating the governor of the state, Godwin Obaseki since 2022. But this latest arrest was as a result of huge withdrawals from the state’s derivation account as the Obaseki administration is winding down”.
EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Mr. Dele Oyewale had yet to respond to a message sent to him on the matter.
The arrest of the officials came days after the state governor-elect, Senator Monday Okpebholo accused Obaseki “of last-minute borrowings and looting”.
In a statement two weeks ago, Okpebholo called on relevant authorities, including the EFCC, the Police and the Department of State Services to investigate the allegation.
