Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has established a 14-member State Assets Verification Committee to investigate the administration of former governor Godwin Obaseki.
According to Okpebholo’s Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, the committee will be inaugurated tomorrow at 1 p.m. at the New Festival Hall of Government House in Benin.
The committee will be chaired by Ernest Umakhihe, with Anslem Ojezua serving as the deputy chairman. Members include Prince Kassim Afegbua, Patrick Ikhariale, Taiwo Akerele, Patrick Idiake, and Rasaq Bello-Osagie. Other members are Fredrick Unopah, Mrs. Abdallah Eugenia, Patrick Obahiagbon, Kenny Okojie, Mrs. Lyndsey Tes-Sorae, Abass Braimoh, and Frank Edebor, who will act as the secretary.
Itua explained that the creation of the committee is part of the governor’s efforts to steer Edo State towards development and accountable leadership. He pointed out that despite repeated calls for a comprehensive database of assets and liabilities from the previous administration, the Obaseki-led government provided only limited information.
The new committee, he said, is aligned with Okpebholo’s campaign promises to ensure transparency, accountability, and probity in governance, with members selected from respected individuals within Edo State.
In response, Obaseki’s media aide, Crusoe Osagie, criticized the probe, calling it an attempt by Governor Okpebholo to cover up his incompetence and lack of preparation for office. Osagie claimed that the governor’s reliance on a series of meaningless probes was nothing more than a political diversion, aimed at deflecting attention from his failure to present a clear vision or plan for the development of Edo State.
