EFCC Arrests Edo Accountant General, Two Others Over Alleged Fund Withdrawals

As Governor Godwin Obaseki’s administration nears its conclusion, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested the Accountant General of Edo State, Julius Anelu, alongside two other top government officials. The arrests follow accusations of significant withdrawals from the state’s derivation account, prompting concerns over the handling of state funds.

This development adds fuel to recent claims by Senator Monday Okpebholo, who accused Obaseki’s administration of engaging in “last-minute borrowings and looting.”

According to a report, an EFCC source disclosed that of ₦24.6 billion deposited into the state’s derivation account, only ₦14 billion remained within a week. “We made some arrests of about two to three persons, including the Accountant General of the state,” the source confirmed, explaining that the EFCC’s actions aim to prevent further potential misuse of state funds. “We have been investigating the governor of the state, Godwin Obaseki, since 2022, but this latest arrest stems from significant withdrawals from the derivation account. We are not in any way aiming to hinder state activities,” the source clarified.

The EFCC has not yet issued an official statement on the arrests.

This incident follows allegations by Edo State’s recently reinstated Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, who accused Governor Obaseki of planning to deplete the state treasury. Shaibu, in an October press briefing in Benin City, offered a ₦1 million reward for information on any looting of government property as the administration winds down.

He claimed to possess evidence of last-minute borrowing and alleged financial mismanagement, urging the EFCC, the Department of State Services (DSS), and other relevant agencies to investigate alleged misappropriations tied to state projects, including the ministry of roads and bridges, the Radisson Hotel project, and recent appointments by the outgoing administration.