Edo State Governor Senator Monday Okpebholo has announced the establishment of a 14-member State Assets Verification Committee. This committee is tasked with examining the asset management of the former administration led by Godwin Obaseki.
The formal inauguration of the committee is scheduled for Tuesday, November 26, 2024, at the Government House in Benin City. Dr. Ernest Afolabi Umakhihe will lead the committee as its chairman, with Anslem Ojezua serving as the deputy chairman and Frank Edebor taking on the role of secretary.
The committee comprises a diverse group of professionals, including Kassim Afegbua, Patrick Ikhariale, Taiwo Akerele, Patrick Idiake, and Rasaq Bello-Osagie. They will be joined by other notable members, including Fredrick Unopah, Abdallah Eugenia, Patrick Obahiagbon, Kenny Okojie, Lyndsey Tes-Sorae, and Abass Braimoh.
In a statement released on Sunday, Fred Itua, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, articulated the necessity of creating this committee. “In furtherance of the governor’s initiative to set the state on the path of development and accountable leadership, the establishment of a State Assets Verification Committee has become imperative. Despite repeated calls for a comprehensive database of the assets and liabilities of the previous administration, the Godwin Obaseki-led government provided only scanty and limited information. In line with the governor’s campaign promise to ensure probity, accountability, and transparency in governance, a committee comprising respected sons and daughters of Edo State has been constituted,” Itua stated.
The inaugural ceremony is set to commence promptly at 1:00 PM at the Festival Hall within the Government House in Benin City, where the committee will outline its objectives and methodologies for the investigation.
