Twelve days before Governor Godwin Obaseki’s term ends in Edo State, the state’s Accountant General, Mr. Julius Anelu, along with four government officials, has reportedly been arrested by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Sources tell DAILY POST that these officials were detained due to their roles as signatories on the state government’s accounts.
They are currently being held at the EFCC’s Benin zonal office. The arrests occurred on Thursday during a briefing. Reports indicate that the agency plans to hold the officials until November 12, the last day of the outgoing governor’s tenure. This situation has reportedly disrupted government operations, leading to delays in payments to civil servants, pensions, and other public employees, as well as impacting statutory payments like security bills. When approached for confirmation, EFCC spokesperson Williams Oseghale referred inquiries to the Commission’s main spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, who has yet to respond to messages sent by reporters.