EFCC summon suspended Edo LG chairpersons over salary diversion, mismanagement

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has summoned all 18 suspended chairpersons of local government areas (LGAs) in Edo State for questioning.

An EFCC source stated that the Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, submitted a petition to the commission, accusing the suspended chairpersons of failing to pay workers’ salaries for two months.

The petition further claims that the chairpersons diverted funds allocated for the October and November salary payments for unspecified purposes.

The source revealed that the chairpersons were invited for questioning based on the governor’s allegations.

On Thursday, December 19, nine of the suspended LG chairpersons appeared at the EFCC’s Benin zonal office.

The remaining nine are scheduled to appear on Friday, December 20.

“The new governor wrote a petition to us, alleging that all 18 local government chairmen failed to pay their workers’ salaries for October and November, and that the funds meant for these payments were allegedly diverted,” the source stated.

“On the basis of that, we invited the 18 local government chairmen to our office. Nine of them came forward today to speak.

“As we are talking, they are still being quizzed by our investigator. The last nine will come tomorrow. We need to remind them that they need to do a thorough job.

“But it’s alright to say that we have started work and are making progress.”

Dele Oyewale, the spokesperson for the EFCC, confirmed that the commission has invited the local government chairpersons for questioning.

On Tuesday, December 17, the Edo State House of Assembly suspended the chairpersons and their deputies for two months due to allegations of gross misconduct.

Blessing Agbebaku, the Speaker of the House, explained that the governor had submitted a petition regarding the chairpersons’ failure to provide the financial records of their councils to the state government.

Agbebaku further stated that the governor characterized their actions as acts of insubordination and gross misconduct, urging the House to investigate the matter.