Governor Okpebholo sets up panel to probe Obaseki's administration

Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has approved the formation of a 14-member State Assets Verification Committee to investigate the administration of his predecessor, Godwin Obaseki. Fred Itua, the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, announced this in a statement on Sunday, adding that the committee will be inaugurated on Tuesday, November 26, 2024, at the Government House in Benin City. The committee will be chaired by Dr. Ernest Afolabi Umakhihe, with Anslem Ojezua as deputy chairman and Frank Edebor as secretary.

The statement highlighted the committee’s mission to promote accountability and transparency in governance. “As part of the governor’s commitment to fostering development and accountable leadership, the establishment of the State Assets Verification Committee is essential,” the statement said.

Itua noted that while there had been calls for a comprehensive database of assets and liabilities from the Obaseki administration, the information provided was incomplete. The committee aims to fill this gap and fulfill Okpebholo’s campaign promise of prioritizing probity in governance.

The committee includes prominent Edo State figures such as Kassim Afegbua, Patrick Ikhariale, Taiwo Akerele, Patrick Idiake, Rasaq Bello-Osagie, Fredrick Unopah, Abdallah Eugenia, Patrick Obahiagbon, Kenny Okojie, Lyndsey Tes-Sorae, and Abass Braimoh. Since assuming office on November 12, Governor Okpebholo has made accountability a key focus of his administration. He previously vowed to investigate the exclusion of 14 lawmakers from the State House of Assembly in 2019 and recently ordered a probe into civil service recruitments conducted under Obaseki from May to November 2024.