The recent arrests of officials at the Benin office, attributed to their role as signatories to the state accounts, have sent shockwaves through the Edo government. According to a source familiar with the investigation, the matter would have major implications for major financial transactions of the state, such as payment of civil servants’ salaries, pensions and other statutory expenditures.
The arrests which took place on Thursday, October 31 at the Benin Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), have jeopardized the smooth running of public services, including suspension of essential payments such as security and operational expenses. The question is whether this will delay the delivery of much-needed services to the people.
According to inside sources, it appears that the EFCC intends to detain the officials until November 12, which coincides with the end of Governor Obaseki’s term. However, the agency has yet to publicly confirm the arrests, which came after the officials were summoned for a briefing.
Attempts to contact EFCC officials have so far been unsuccessful. The EFCC spokesperson for the Benin office, Williams Oseghale, referred journalists to the Commission’s national spokesperson, Dele Oyewale. However, the latter’s response was limited to a text message request to send questions, with no further statement to date.
This case raises many questions about transparency and accountability in the management of public resources. Citizens are waiting for clear answers, and the matter must be brought to light to restore confidence in government institutions.