Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has constituted a 14-member State Assets Verification Committee to audit the administration of his predecessor, Godwin Obaseki.
This move aims to ensure transparency and accountability in governance, a cornerstone of Okpebholo's campaign promises.
The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Fred Itua, disclosed this development in a statement on Sunday, announcing that the committee would be inaugurated on Tuesday, November 26, 2024, at the Government House in Benin City.
“In furtherance of the governor’s initiative to set the state on the path of development and accountable leadership, the establishment of a State Assets Verification Committee has become imperative,” the statement read.
Itua emphasized that despite repeated requests for a comprehensive database of assets and liabilities from the Obaseki administration, only limited information was provided.
Committee Leadership and Members
The committee will be chaired by Dr Ernest Afolabi Umakhihe, with Anslem Ojezua as the deputy chairman and Frank Edebor as secretary.
Other members include Kassim Afegbua, Patrick Ikhariale, Taiwo Akerele, Patrick Idiake, Rasaq Bello-Osagie, Fredrick Unopah, Abdallah Eugenia, Patrick Obahiagbon, Kenny Okojie, Lyndsey Tes-Sorae, and Abass Braimoh.
The governor's office described the appointees as “respected sons and daughters of Edo State” tasked with ensuring probity and safeguarding public resources.
Probes into Obaseki’s Tenure
The asset verification committee is the latest in a series of investigations initiated by Okpebholo into Obaseki's administration.
The governor had earlier pledged in his November 12 inaugural address to examine the exclusion of 14 lawmakers from the Edo State House of Assembly in 2019, a controversy that sparked nationwide criticism during Obaseki’s tenure.
Additionally, Okpebholo ordered a probe on Friday into the state civil service recruitment conducted between May and November 2024, alleging irregularities.
Commitment to Accountability
The governor’s actions underscore his commitment to rebuilding trust in government through transparency and oversight.
The outcome of these investigations is expected to set the tone for Okpebholo’s administration while addressing lingering concerns about governance under his predecessor.
The committee is expected to submit its findings within a specified timeframe, marking a pivotal step in the state's transition to what Okpebholo described as “accountable leadership and development.”
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