The Edo State Government has condemned the recent invitation and arrest of its Accountant-General, Julius Anelu, along with four other officials by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), describing it as a move aimed at destabilizing the state.
The EFCC’s letter, 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,” requested that Anelu and four treasury officials report to the agency’s Benin City office.
According to Edo State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, the agricultural loan in question “has since been repaid by the State Government.”
Nehikhare explained that “upon realizing 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.”
He continued, “The said officer is now also being detained by the agency in Abuja, in addition to the others who were originally invited and honoured the invitation.”
The Commissioner expressed concern that “the EFCC seems intent on crippling governance in Edo State and acting out a script that portends grave danger to democracy.” He added, “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, the day of the termination of the tenure of this government.”
Nehikhare emphasized that “from Monday, the government would have been grounded and will no longer be able to meet up with basic responsibilities and obligations.” He called the EFCC’s actions “most condemnable and reprehensible” and urged the agency to act in the interest of “democracy, justice, peace, and the wellbeing of Edo people” by releasing the detained officials
