#EDO2024 – Okpebholo: “I learned of EFCC arrests through media.”

Governor-elect Monday Okpebholo Denies Involvement in EFCC’s Arrest of Edo Accountant-General Amid Last-Minute Withdrawal Allegations

Edo State governor-elect, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has categorically denied any involvement in the recent arrest of the state’s Accountant-General, Julius Anelu, and four other officials by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The arrests, reportedly intended to prevent unauthorized last-minute withdrawals from state accounts, have sparked controversy across the state’s political landscape.

In an official statement issued by Okpebholo’s media aide, Goodwill Inegbe, the governor-elect condemned the circulating reports that linked him to the EFCC action. According to Okpebholo, these reports were the result of “post-election trauma” among members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and allies of the outgoing administration under Governor Godwin Obaseki. He described the accusations as a deliberate attempt to spread misinformation and discredit him before he officially takes office on November 12.

“The attention of the Edo State governor-elect, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has been drawn to a misleading publication circulating on social media, linking him to the recent arrest of the Edo State accountant-general, Mr. Julius Anelu, and four others by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC),” the statement read. “Our investigation has revealed that this baseless publication, filled with assumptions and lacking fundamental facts, was concocted by members of the PDP and associates of the outgoing administration under Governor Obaseki.”

In the statement, Okpebholo emphasized that he had no role in the EFCC’s recent actions, noting that he, like other citizens, only became aware of the arrests through media reports. “The governor-elect, like every citizen of Edo, learned about the arrest of Mr. Julius Anelu and other state officials through media reports,” the statement continued. “The arrest by the EFCC reportedly aimed to forestall last-minute withdrawals from the state’s accounts.”

The governor-elect’s media office also reminded the public that only a week prior, Okpebholo had issued a statement alerting security agencies to alleged looting activities within the government. According to Inegbe, Okpebholo had voiced concerns about what he described as an “ongoing looting of funds and theft of government properties” across government offices and various ministries, departments, and agencies in the state.

Okpebholo’s team also challenged the motives of those spreading the misinformation, stating, “It is evident that the PDP and members of Governor Obaseki’s outgoing administration are experiencing severe post-election defeat trauma. This has apparently led to unfounded reactions from them.”

With his tenure set to begin soon, Okpebholo has assured the Edo public that his administration will prioritize transparency and accountability while focusing on the state’s development needs. His office has urged citizens to disregard the false reports and await the positive changes he promises to bring to Edo State.