The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested the Edo State Accountant General, Julius Anelu, and two others in connection with N26.6 billion derivation funds allocated to the state.
The Network investigations revealed that the EFCC arrested the Accountant General alongside two others.
Finding revealed that the three top officials of the Edo State Government were picked up by the Edo State Command of the EFCC in Benin in the afternoon on Friday, Nov 1, 2024.
It was gathered that the commission got interested when 13.6 billion of the money was withdrawn leaving only N13 billion in the account within one week.
A source confided in The Network that the commission arrested the Accountant General and the two others to prevent them from making further suspicious withdrawals from the account.
The Network investigation revealed that the State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki has been under EFCC watch list since 2022.
It was gathered that the commission has commenced investigation into the suspected diversion of state funds.
The Network gathered that those arrested are signatories to the state government accounts as arrest of the officials has grounded government activities in Edo State.
It was gathered that the arrests have disrupted government activities with the state not being able to pay civil servants’ emoluments, pensions, and other public servants, security bills and others.
The outgoing Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki is expected to handover government on November 12, to the in-coming government led by Senator Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who won the September 21, 2024, governorship election in the state.
