Edo State government has said the recent arrest of its top civil servants was a script allegedly acted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The government also said that the anti-graft agency’s intent was to cripple governance in Edo state, noting that the development portends grave danger to democracy.
This was contained in a statement issued on Saturday in Benin City by the state Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mr. Chris Nehikhare.
The Commissioner stated that Governor Godwin Obaseki runs a transparent and accountable Government, adding, “This Government runs until November 12, 2024. Unconstitutional actions should not be done to hinder its operations.
“Nehikhare recalled that the EFCC in a letter dated October 28, 2024, invited four officials from the Edo State Treasury Office, including the Accountant General, Julius Anelu, to its Benin Office.
He said the letter of invitation was addressed to the Secretary to the State Government and titled “Loans and Agricultural Interventions Granted to Edo State Government from Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) from 2018 to date.
“The Commissioner noted that the letter pertains to an agricultural facility that has since been repaid by the state government.
He added that the government officers, including the State Accountant on Thursday, honoured the invitation as requested at the Benin Office of the EFCC to provide necessary answers as required by the EFCC.
According to him, “Upon realising that one of the invited officials was no longer a signatory to the government account, the EFCC released the officer and requested for the current signatory, whose name was not initially on the invitation letter.
“The said officer is now also being detained by the agency at Abuja, in addition to the others who were originally invited and honoured the invitation.
“The reason for the invitation of these civil servants is clear, contrary to the invitation letter is to keep them in EFCC custody till November 12, on the day of the termination of the tenure of this government.
“In fact, from Monday, government would have been grounded and will no longer be able to meet up with basic responsibilities and obligations.
“This devious action is most condemnable and reprehensible and we urge the EFCC to act responsibly in the interest of democracy, justice, peace and the wellbeing of Edo people and immediately release these government officials, and not throw Edo State into chaos.”
