The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has detained Edo State’s Accountant General, Julius Anelu, along with two other government officials, over alleged suspicious withdrawals by the administration of outgoing Governor Godwin Obaseki.
Anelu and the two unnamed officials were reportedly taken into custody on Friday, November 1, in Edo State.
On Saturday, November 2, an EFCC source said the suspects underwent intense questioning overnight.
The suspects are currently held in the EFCC’s Edo State facility and may soon be transferred to the South-South Zonal Office in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, for further investigation.
In response, the Obaseki administration denied the allegations and called on the incoming administration to substantiate its claims with evidence.
Philip Shaibu, who remains deputy governor despite a recent court ruling ignored by the Obaseki administration, warned that senior officials would be held accountable if any government properties were misappropriated during the transition.
“As our administration ends in a few weeks, I have issued a stern warning to Permanent Secretaries, Heads of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies to guard against the looting of government properties by political appointees, as they will be held accountable by the incoming administration for any assets missing under their watch,” Mr Shaibu said.
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