The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has summoned all 18 suspended local government area (LGA) chairpersons in Edo State to investigate allegations of financial mismanagement.
The probe was initiated after Governor Monday Okpebholo submitted a petition accusing the chairpersons of failing to pay workers’ salaries for October and November, despite funds being allocated for that purpose.
The petition alleges that the funds were diverted for unspecified uses.
On Thursday, December 19, nine of the suspended chairpersons appeared at the EFCC’s Benin Zonal Office for questioning. The remaining nine are scheduled to appear on Friday.
“The new governor submitted a petition alleging that the 18 LGA chairpersons failed to pay workers for two months and diverted the allocated funds,” an EFCC source revealed. “We’ve begun investigations, and progress is being made.”
Dele Oyewale, EFCC spokesperson, confirmed the invitations but declined to provide further details on the investigation.
This development follows the Edo State House of Assembly’s decision on Tuesday to suspend the chairpersons and their deputies for two months over alleged gross misconduct.
Speaker Blessing Agbebaku explained that the governor’s petition also accused the chairpersons of refusing to submit their councils’ financial records, labeling their actions as insubordination and misconduct. The assembly has launched its own inquiry into the allegations.
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