Ben Ogbemudia, Abuja
All Progressives Congress has accused the present administration of Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki is conniving with Mr. Asue Ighodalo and Mr. Osarodion Ogie, both governorship and running mate candidates for the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) to siphon the resources of the state.
Addressing a Press Conference in Benin, Emperor Jarret Tenebe, the Chairman of APC in Edo State, said, “We have patiently listened to accusations of corruption that have been levelled against members of this government, and we have waited for individuals and groups, especially the Civil Society and the Press to expose the worrisome situation but to no avail.
“We are by this our action today, urging Edo people to act quickly by asking the anti-corruption agencies to take notice of the endemic corruption in our dear state and act in the interest of the state. The State is happy with steps taken in relation to the Investigation of the Central Bank Interventions that were squandered by Governor Obaseki. We are in receipt of an invitation letter No. CR: 3000/EFCC/ABJ/HQ/SOT/VOL. 2/2024 dated 19th April, 2024 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to Edo State Commissioner of Finance, and the response by the Secretary to State Government(SSG) and PDP Governorship running mate, via his letter of May 7, 2024 with Ref. SGA. 440/T3/82.
“We urge the EFCC to follow up their investigation to prosecute and recover the agriculture and other sundry loans diverted by this present administration.
“Relating to our call, in the first instance, we draw the attention of the Press and the general public to two projects that were designed by Governor Obaseki and supervised by his political godson, Asue Ighodalo through his law firm of Banwo and Ighodalo, and Obaseki’s Afrinvest. A systematic pattern of contract splitting and variation was deployed by ministry of finance to drain off the state’s resources.”
According to Tenebe, “Governor Obaseki’s company, Afrinvest raises capital for projects at a Management Fee and Commission, in the name of Edo State and the loans on Edo State; Afrinvest also provide Business Advisory and Project Finance at inflated fees and Greenfield Consultancy owned by close associate of Governor Obaseki has been the one handling all Civil Service Reforms at outrageous fees. The Civil Servants are privately grumbling and are volunteering information on this unholy scheme. The Press is therefore encouraged to approach them for records of Greenfield Consultancy.”
Going further he stated, “The latest plan by Governor Obaseki to make the activities of his administration paperless is a criminal plan that has been designed by one ‘Ugo’ who is in charge of e-governance who has concluded with the governor to destroy all documents relating to fraudulent contracts with the excuse that Edo Government has gone paperless. ‘Ugo’ has been instructed to delete the server containing sensitive documents when the PDP loses the election on September 21, 2024. We hereby warn Governor Obaseki and the head of e-governance, ‘Ugo’ not to delete the approvals of contracts on e-gov.
“On behalf of Edo people, we are calling on the EFCC to immediately begin the investigation of the Law Firm of Banwo and Ighodalo as it connects to the treasury of Edo State Government, relating to several legal advisory services the PDP candidate received huge sums of money for services not provided.”
On Radisson Hotel, Tenebe divulged: “On August 30, 2023, Governor Obaseki announced to the world that he was building Radisson Hotel at a total contract sum of N19.6bn. The contract was awarded on August 23, 2023 to Shapoorji Pallonji Nigeria Limited for N15,397,368,022.49 (Fifteen Billion, Three Hundred and Ninety Seven Million, Three Hundred and Sixty Eight Thousand, Twenty Two Naira, Forty Nine Kobo).
“Today, the project has ballooned to N23b and with further sub-contracts of N2.1b (for supply of, installation and commission of MEP/HVAC (Mechanical Works) Equipment); N1.6b for supply and installation of Kitchen and Laundry Equipment and N703m for installation of Aluminium Glazing Works and Alucobond Cladding awarded to All Facave Limited. These additional contracts for the same Radisson Hotel were awarded on the same day, June 1, 2023.
“It is vital to point out that the hotel complex itself, before the taking over by the Edo State Government was already 85 percent completed, yet, over N28b are being filtered away by a government that has failed to build a single hospital in 8 years. In March 2023, Afrinvest owned by Governor Obaseki, with office address at 27 Gerrard Road, Ikoyi, Lagos submitted the ‘Project Financial Summary’ to a company called ‘IDIA DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LIMITED’ the company suspected to own Radisson Hotel in Edo State and Afrinvest came on-board as financial adviser to the project.
“We wish to inform Edo people that the Law Firm of Banwo and Ighodalo, the company owned by the PDP governorship candidate was awarded the contract for Legal Advisory Services at N1.5b, in addition to his legal contract drafting, MOU writing in the last 8 years at ridiculous and bogus fees.
“Sadly, the ownership of Radisson Blue is shrouded in doubt. The EFCC must unravel this in the interest of Edo people and find out the stake of IDIA DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LIMITED and Edo State Government in the Radisson Hotel project.”
On Edo Modular Refinery, Tenebe said: “Edo Refinery (ERPC) located in Ikpoba-Okha LGA in Edo State was drummed up by Governor Obaseki as a state government project and spent over N1b on the project take off and through government, the project attracted foreign investment but on completion, the refinery has been transformed to a private company with 100 percent ownership by Michael Osime AIPCC Energy.
“ICMG Securities Limited, Micheal Osime, had accompanied Governor Obaseki to China in January 2018 to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a 5,500bpd modular refinery between Edo State Government and SINOPEC of China, at SINOPEC headquarters. Osime’s AIPCC Energy was never a partner to the project but financial advisor.”
However responding to the litany of allegations by the APC through a voice note, the state Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Hon. Chris Nehikhare said: “I just read a statement from the Chairman of the APC. It’s unfortunate that we still have people heading political parties that have no idea of how government is run that they believe in sensationalism.
“They have not offered any policy statement or direction for a government they’re trying to form. Instead they’re chasing shadows making allegations that are spurious and frivolous. We’re not going to dignify them with a response. But to tell Edo people to ask these APC leadership their plans for Edo State.
“That’s all we ask. We need to hear their plans for Edo State. All the plans to build or offer a better state than we have done here in PDP. How they intend to sustain the progress we have made or if they have a better plan let them come out and articulate it.”
