Lawyer petition EFCC over alleged massive fraud by Edo State Government

 

By Ehi Ekhator, United Kingdom

An Abuja based Nigerian lawyer, Ojealaro Friday Esq, and the Edo Civil Socieity Organisation have petitioned the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) over an alleged massive fraud in Edo State.

The petition fingered the state government of allegedly misappropriating the bailout fund N3.167bn, which was given to state government by the Federal Government.

Hon. Osaro Obazee Oredo Local Government Chairman

According to the petition signed and a copy made available to NAIJA CENTER NEWS, the gorup believes in arresting or facilitating the arrest of activities that may hamper the development of the Edo people or harmful to their entire well being.

The petition titled “Colossal fraud Uncovered in Edo State: Passionate Appeal For Your Official Intervention”questioned how the bailout was spent, accusing the state government of starving the Local government financially.

The petition revealed that the protest staged by the five local government councilors that led to the suspension of the five local government by Adams Oshiomhole, was staged managed by the chairmen of the Local Government Council in order to get to the bottom of their shortchanged.

The Petition reads ” For over a year now,both the Edo state government and the Local councils in Edo state have been finding it difficult to pay workers salaries despite the fact that the Federal Government have never defaulted at making good their monthly allocations. Recently,the Federal Government under anti-corruption president Buhari decided to give states financial bailouts from which my state benefited. That was when the cat was let out of the bag.

SUBSTANCE OF OUR COMPLAINT:

We gathered that the state government was not ready to factor the local councils into the disbursements of the Presidential bailout which led the Councillors in Edo State to carry out a protest on behalf of the council chairmen and their constituents to the state house. One of their loudest and shocking demands is that; the state ministry of finance should stop making illegal deductions from their monthly allocations and blackmailing the council chairmen to sign receipt of fraudulent figures. The Councillors argued that,it is the only way,the local councils can pay salaries and meet other governmental commitments to their constituents.

In reaction to this protest,the state governor-Adams Oshiomhole swiftly swung into action by suspending the alleged sponsors of the protest. These are;

(1) Hon. Emmanuel Momoh,Etsako Central Council chairman

(2) Hon. Victor Enobakhare,Egor Council Chairman

(3) Hon. Osaro Obazee, Oredo Council Chairman

(4) Hon. Roland Ibieretonmwen,Orhiomwon Council chairman

(5).Hon. Akeredolu Folorunsho, Akoko Edo Council Chairman

The state government have accused these local council chairmen of corruption and fraud and misappropriation of public funds. However, the council chairmen acting through their spokesman,Hon Osaro Obazee( Oredo local council chairman), have come out to refute the allegation. He denied ever receiving N1,057,604.67(the amount of money the state government alleged he got from FAAC)from January to october,2015. He claimed that he got less than 15% of the alleged sum. He admitted only the receipt of N102,579,700.

All the other local council chairmen including those not suspended all have their version of the story which is clearly irreconcilable with alleged figures being bandied by the Edo state government. Some of them are afraid to speak out like Obazee or else,they will be shown the exit door.

REASONABLE CONCLUSION:

A lot of money running into trillions of naira cannot be accounted for. The state government is saying the council chairmen misappropriated the money. The local council chairmen are saying,they never received such money from the commissioner of finance who manages the joint account of both the state government and the local councils. This is a clear case of missing trillions of naira and Edo people are now helpless. Some are even dying prematurely because of their deplorable economic conditions occasioned by these frauds.

REASON FOR COMPLAINT.

This pervading corruption in Edo state if not arrested and dealt with by a body with the legal status,technical wherewithal and professional expertise,it will continue to injure the well being of Edo people and creating all forms of social unrest. The citizens do not know whom to believe now. Is it the state government or the local council chairmen? We can only know the answer if your esteemed establishment act promptly by carrying out immediate investigations. We want to emphasize ” promptly and immediate” because,if this matter is not attended to now,there might be fraudulent and sinister moves to sweep it under the carpet.

PERSONS DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY THIS PETITION AND NEED TO BE QUESTIONED.

(1) Commissioner for Finance,Edo State

(2) Accountant-General,Edo State

(3) Permanent Secretary,ministry of finance, edo state

(4) Commissioner for local government areas affairs,edo state

(5) All the Local council chairmen mentioned in this petition and any other one that the Commission may deem fit to invite in the circumstances of this investigation.

(6) The various revenue collection contractors in Edo state whether local and state.

(7) Treasurers and secretaries of the local councils who are joint signatories to the councils accounts.

The foregoing is a brief particulars of our petition and we fervently hope and pray that you will employ your usual diligence and investigational prowess to help the Edo people.

Whilst thanking you for your anticipated kind and favourable considerations of our petition,please and kindly accept the assurance of the Highest regard of our Group.

F.S.S Ojealaro Esq.”

Lawyer petition EFCC over alleged massive fraud by Edo State Government