Okpebholo Sets Up 14-Member Committee to Probe Obaseki’s Administration

Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo has established a 14-member asset verification committee to investigate the administration of his predecessor, Godwin Obaseki. The committee, which will be sworn in on Tuesday, is tasked with assessing the state’s assets and liabilities under Obaseki’s leadership.

In a statement issued on Sunday by Fred Itua, the governor’s chief press secretary, Okpebholo emphasized that the move is part of his administration’s commitment to promoting responsible governance and transparency. The asset verification committee is seen as a crucial step toward setting the state on the path of progress and accountable leadership.

“Despite numerous calls for a comprehensive record of the assets and liabilities from the previous administration, the Godwin Obaseki-led government presented only limited data,” the statement read. “In keeping with the governor’s promise to foster probity, accountability, and transparency, this committee has been formed to deepen the governance process.”

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The committee’s members include prominent figures such as Ernest Afolabi Umakhihe, Anslem Ojezua, Kassim Afegbua, Patrick Ikhariale, Taiwo Akerele, and Rasaq Bello-Osagie, among others. The group is expected to scrutinize the administration’s financial dealings and ensure that Edo’s resources are accounted for.

In his inaugural address on November 12, Governor Okpebholo also pledged to investigate the controversial exclusion of 14 lawmakers from the state house of assembly in 2019. This follows on the heels of another investigation ordered by the governor into the state’s civil service recruitment process under Obaseki, which is set to cover the period between May and November 2024.