Shaibu pledges to reward whistleblowers of looting in Obaseki administration N1m
By Jeffrey Agbo
Deputy Governor of Edo State Philip Shaibu on Friday offered to reward anyone with information on alleged looting of government property N1 million.
The deputy governor, who was earlier impeached by the state assembly but reinstated by a court, called on anti-corruption agencies to look into the alleged misappropriation of funds meant for projects in the ministry of roads and bridges, ongoing Radisson Hotel project and last-minute appointments and borrowing by the outgoing administration of Governor Godwin Obaseki.
At a press briefing in Benin City, Shaibu said he had evidence to back looting allegations.
He said, “I have received disturbing reports of banks and other financial institutions, granting last-minute loans to Governor Godwin Obaseki. This is alarming, and not in good faith. Against that backdrop, I am issuing a strong warning to banks and financial institutions not to grant any loans or issue financial instruments to Governor Obaseki or any official of the state government in whatever capacity or office.
“Also, information at my disposal shows there are last-minute plans to siphon state’s fund using NGOs as a decoy, under the guise of supporting such organisations’ projects and activities.
READ ALSO:
Obaseki counters Shaibu’s directive to Perm Secs, HODs on looting of Edo govt’s properties
“These actions undermine our state’s financial stability and potential mortgage of the future of Edo State. I dissociate myself and my office from any such dealings.”
He said there were reports of indiscriminate and clandestine appointments into the civil and public service with outrageous grade levels.
He added, “I condemn these actions and dissociate myself and my office from any involvement. These appointments have not only undermined the civil service’s integrity but also perpetuated a culture of cronyism.”
He also alleged that consultants were being appointed and their date of engagement being backdated, allegedly to justify outrageous expenditures.
“As the Deputy Governor of Edo State, I am inviting the EFCC and ICPC to look into the massive contract fraud that has taken place under the supervision of Ferguson Enabulele and the entire government.
“Investigation is equally ongoing to unravel the alleged involvement of some engineers in the ministry, who agreed to assist the permanent secretary to keep such funds with their registered company accounts with banks and later convert such to US dollars,” he said.
