Okpebholo to Investigate Obaseki Over Billions Paid to Consultants

Governor Monday Okpebholo has announced plans to investigate the financial dealings of his predecessor, Godwin Obaseki, particularly payments made to consultants during his administration.

The Edo State governor made the announcement on Friday during a victory celebration in Benin City after the Supreme Court upheld his 2024 election win.

The announcement came as thousands of supporters gathered to celebrate with the governor, who marched through the streets of Benin with his deputy, Dennis Idahosa, party leaders, and government officials. Addressing the crowd at Government House, Okpebholo said his administration would set up a Commission of Inquiry to look into the past government’s use of public funds. He pointed to records showing billions paid to consultants for services he believes should have been handled by civil servants.

The probe will focus on specific contracts under Obaseki’s government, including one at the Edo Geographic Information Service where a consultant reportedly received N6 billion, and another N2 billion was spent on software. Okpebholo revealed that his government has already stopped those contracts and trained state workers to handle the jobs in-house, a move he said is saving the state a large amount of money.

The investigation will also look into alleged cases where public institutions were underfunded while consultants received large sums. One case cited involved a university that reportedly got less funding than a consultant within the same period. Okpebholo described this as an imbalance and said Edo deserves better use of its public funds. He pledged to open the books and ensure those responsible for mismanaging state resources are held accountable.

The governor stressed that his administration is relying on the capacity of the state’s civil servants. He said many top officials from the previous government remain in place, including the Head of Service and several Permanent Secretaries. According to him, this shows that the investigation is not about politics but about transparency. He explained that Edo has capable people who can manage the state’s affairs without relying on expensive consultants.

Despite the festive mood, the celebration was disrupted when many of the governor’s supporters were denied entry into Government House. They had followed the convoy from the airport to join the gathering, but security officials reportedly told them that only high-profile guests would be allowed inside. Some of the supporters expressed disappointment, saying they had waited for hours in the sun only to be locked out of the event.

Governor Okpebholo assured the public that in the next two years, his administration will work hard to prove its commitment to good governance. He said the decision to launch an investigation is not an act of revenge but a duty to ensure that Edo’s resources are used properly. His deputy, Dennis Idahosa, urged officials to stay focused and deliver on their promises to the people.

The Commission of Inquiry is expected to begin work soon, with full access to state records from the previous administration. Okpebholo said the goal is to make sure the mistakes of the past are not repeated and that the people of Edo get the accountability they deserve.