By DADA AYOKHAI
The Edo State government has accused the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) of having malicious intent in the arrest and detention of the state’s Accountant General.
This marks the first time the state government has publicly reacted to the EFCC’s actions against top officials.
Five officials from the state government, including the Accountant General, Mr Julius Anelu were invited and subsequently detained by the EFCC.
Despite the need for their release, the officials remain in EFCC custody.
The EFCC’s refusal to release these officials raises serious security concerns, with observers noting that such actions could significantly disrupt government operations.
Since the officials complied with the EFCC’s invitation to report to its Benin zonal office, their ongoing detention has sparked speculation about a potential motive to keep them incarcerated until after the handover date on November 12.
The Edo State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Mr. Chris Nehikhare, issued a press release in Benin stating the position of the state government.
He asserted that the EFCC acted on false pretences and emphasized that the continued detention of the officials is intended to “cripple” the state economy.
Nehikhare explained that, in a letter dated October 28, 2024, addressed to the Secretary of the State Government, the EFCC invited four officials from the Edo State Treasury Office, including the Accountant General, Mr. Julius Anelu to its zonal office in Benin.
“The letter of invitation, addressed to the Secretary to the State Government and titled “Loans and Agricultural Interventions Granted to Edo State Government from Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) from 2018 to date,” pertains to an agricultural facility that has since been repaid by the State Government.’
The invited officials were said to have duly complied with the Commission’s request, but they were subsequently detained.
He further noted that after realizing one of the invited officials was no longer a signatory to the government account, the EFCC released that officer and instead requested the current signatory, whose name was not included in the initial invitation. That officer is now being held by the EFCC in Abuja, in addition to the others who were originally invited
Nehikhare argued that it is evident the EFCC is following a predetermined agenda aimed at undermining governance in Edo State and warned that the actions of the anti-graft commission pose a serious threat to the stability of the state’s democracy.
He said, “The reason for this invitation is clear to all discerning minds: to keep these officials in EFCC custody until November 12, which marks the end of this administration.
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“In fact, from Monday, government operations will be severely disrupted, making it impossible to meet our basic responsibilities and obligations.”
He condemned this “devious action” and urged the EFCC to act responsibly in the interest of democracy, justice, peace, and the well-being of the people of Edo State.
He also called for the immediate release of the detained government officials to prevent chaos in the state.
Nehikhare issued a warning to critics, reminding them that Governor Obaseki’s term runs until November 12 and stressed that unconstitutional measures should not be employed to disrupt the functioning of the current government.
