In a dramatic escalation, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has effectively halted government operations in Edo State by detaining all key signatories to the state’s financial accounts. Among those apprehended are the state’s Accountant General and other senior officials, whose arrests have crippled the state’s financial functions, plunging Edo into administrative paralysis.
According to sources close to the EFCC, approximately five high-ranking officials were summoned to the agency’s Benin office on Thursday under the pretext of a routine briefing. However, they were subsequently detained, and the EFCC has indicated plans to hold them until November 12, the date marking the end of Governor Godwin Obaseki’s tenure. This action is reportedly part of a broader probe into alleged financial mismanagement within the state government.
The impact of the detentions has been immediate and sweeping. The freeze on state accounts has stalled payments of wages, pensions, and other essential disbursements, leaving civil servants and pensioners in limbo. Furthermore, vital security funding and other statutory obligations are also suspended, leading to widespread disruption across various sectors of the state’s administration.
EFCC sources suggest that the timing of the detentions, coinciding with the governor’s final days in office, may be a strategic move to ensure accountability. As the November 12 deadline approaches, the detained officials face an uncertain future, while the state government grapples with unprecedented operational challenges amidst the leadership transition.
