Edo: Police quiz APC chair over fake economic stimulus package

Operatives of Edo state police command have arrested the Oredo ward 8 chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Sunday Erhabor, over illegal collation of unsuspecting persons’ name and bank details under the pretense of providing them with stimulus package to cushion the effects of COVID-19 lockdown in the state.

This was just as the police reportedly launched a manhunt for other fleeing party executives in Oredo, Egor and Ikpoba-Okha local government area who were fingered in the “sham”.

Embattled Erhabor was said to have told his victims that he has the mandate of Governor Godwin Obaseki to collate their bank details as a condition to benefit from the government largesse.

Blueprint gathered that the police took Erhabor into custody on Tuesday after the state government reportedly petitioned the operatives over his activities.

However, a source who craved for anonymity absolved Erhabor of any wrong doing, adding that “he only acted on the instruction of the local government APC executives who claimed to have the backing of the state government”.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, had distanced the state government from scheme and described it as the handiwork of unscrupulous elements out to defraud unsuspecting residents.

Crusoe said: “the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration’s relief package is meant for the poor and vulnerable persons only, the details of which would be made public soon.

“And I want to clarify that the state government has not recruited anybody or group of persons to collate names or bank details on its behalf. Members of the public are advised to disregard the message.”

According to the governor’s aide, “The economic stimulus that has been developed by the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration to cushion the economic effect of coronavirus (COVID -19) outbreak in the state is targeted at the poor and vulnerable persons”.

“We would explore the right channels in reaching out to these persons when the exercise kicks off.”

The state police spokesman, Chidi Nwanbuzor, said he was yet to be briefed on the matter.

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