Former Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki is reportedly under scrutiny by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as the agency investigates transactions from his eight years in office.
Contracts and financial dealings from his administration are being examined, although no direct link to Obaseki has been established so far.
Obaseki, who left office on November 12, 2024, had previously predicted he might face EFCC investigations after his tenure. His successor, Monday Okpebholo, has also set up a 14-member State Assets Verification Committee to probe activities under the former administration.
This comes on the heels of the EFCC’s November 2 arrest of five Edo officials, including Accountant General Julius Anelu, over allegations of significant withdrawals from the state treasury.
Speaking on November 8, Obaseki expressed his willingness to cooperate with the EFCC and declared he had nothing to hide, stating he would account for his time in office if called upon.
EFCC insiders revealed that while suspicious transactions have been identified, investigators have yet to uncover substantial evidence implicating Obaseki. A source noted that most transactions were handled indirectly, making it challenging to trace them back to the former governor.
The EFCC has placed Obaseki, like all former governors, on its watch list to ensure their availability during investigations. A source explained this measure as standard practice to prevent former officials from leaving the country when needed for questioning.
Attempts to reach EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale for comments were unsuccessful, as calls and messages to his line went unanswered at the time of filing this report.
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