The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has placed former Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki on its watch list.
It was gathered that the anti-graft agency had commenced an investigation into transactions, including contracts awarded during his tenure as the governor of Edo State.
Obaseki, who left office on November 12 after an eight-year tenure, stated that the EFCC planned to arrest him soon after.
His successor, Monday Okpebholo, has formed a 14-member state asset verification committee to investigate his tenure.
On November 2, the EFCC arrested five Edo government officials, including the Accountant General, Julius Anelu, over large withdrawals from the state Treasury.
On November 2, the EFCC arrested five Edo government officials, including the Accountant General Julius Anelu, for large withdrawals from the state treasury in a short period of time.
However, on November 8, Obaseki stated that he was not afraid of a probe by the EFCC and would be willing to give an account of his tenure.
The source said, “An investigation has commenced on his administration. He can’t just be invited until the work has gotten to a certain stage. A team of crack investigators has been assigned to the case and has been trying to unravel some of the transactions, including contracts awarded under his administration.
“The bulk of the transactions, you can’t trace it to him. He made use of others. There have been leads that we have been following, and we hope to get something substantial.”
Speaking on whether Obaseki had been watch listed, another source said, though not limited to Obaseki, all former governors are being watch listed by the commission.
“All former governors are always on the commission’s watch list, whether the commission has something with the fellow or not. We are not going to allow them to jet out of the country and then start going after them when we need them. So that is why we always place all of them on our watch list,” the source said.
