The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has taken into custody, Edo State’s Accountant General, Mr. Julius Anelu, along with four other key officials associated with state government accounts.
The arrest is coming as governor Godwin Obaseki is gearing up to handover the baton of leadership to the incoming administration.
According to sources, the officials were arrested to forestall last minute withdrawal from the state account following the budget allegedly approved by the State House of Assembly about two weeks to the inauguration of the new government.
NewsBand understand that the officials are currently detained at the EFCC’s Benin office.
“The commission intends to keep the detained officials until November 12, coinciding with the end of the current administration’s tenure,” a source said.
One source revealed that government operations are effectively stalled, impacting payments to civil servants, pensions, and other public servants, as well as other essential obligations like security bills.
Though, the anti-graft agency is yet to confirm or deny the purported arrest of the said government officials.
