The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Asue Ighodalo, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, are at odds over the arrest of a prominent PDP chieftain, Jonathan Okunbor.
At the heart of the controversy is a staggering allegation of N6 billion siphoned from the coffers of Edo’s local government areas. The EFCC claims Okunbor masterminded the diversion, channeling the funds through a company, Kezmith Global Ventures, which he allegedly ran under an alias.
This arrest has sparked heated exchanges between the EFCC and Ighodalo, who has accused the agency of targeting a key witness in his ongoing legal challenge of the September 2024 gubernatorial election. However, the EFCC insists otherwise.
The drama began to unfold when Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, accused local government chairmen of diverting N12 billion over 15 months, funneling the funds to PDP leaders. Acting on this, the state House of Assembly suspended all 18 LGA chairmen, citing insubordination after they failed to provide financial records.
Enter Jonathan Okunbor, a name now synonymous with controversy. On Tuesday, Ighodalo, in a viral video, claimed Okunbor’s arrest was a ploy to weaken his case at the election tribunal. The PDP candidate argued that Okunbor was a critical witness.
But the EFCC has been firm in its rebuttal. In a statement released Wednesday, the commission’s spokesman, Dele Oyewale, declared that Okunbor was no election witness but a prime suspect in the alleged misappropriation of funds.
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“Ongoing investigations revealed that about N6 billion was diverted to Kezmith Global Ventures, owned by Okunbor. The suspect was running the company under the identity of Mr. Godfrey Emode,” Oyewale explained.
The arrest of Emode reportedly led investigators to Okunbor, who was apprehended at Eterno Hotel during a pre-trial meeting. Despite resistance from Ighodalo and others present, the EFCC said it carried out its duty.
The confrontation at Eterno Hotel was described as tense. According to the EFCC, Ighodalo insisted Okunbor was a witness, attempting to block the arrest. “He only wanted to aid his escape,” Oyewale stated.
The EFCC emphasized that its focus remains on fighting corruption, not political affiliations. “We are committed to upholding the rule of law. Anyone found complicit in corruption, whether tied to an election tribunal or not, will face justice,” Oyewale added.
As investigations deepen and the legal battle over the gubernatorial election continues, the stakes couldn’t be higher. For Edo residents, the unfolding drama is a bitter reminder of the enduring challenges of governance and accountability in the state.
For now, the questions linger: Was Okunbor a scapegoat caught in the crossfire of politics, or is he the key to unraveling a web of corruption? The truth, as always, lies in the details yet to come.