The Edo State government on Saturday condemned the invitation of the state’s Accountant-General, Julius Anelu, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The commission invited the Accountant-General and four officials of the Edo State Treasury Office over loans and agricultural interventions granted to the state government by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL).
In a statement issued in Benin City, the state’s Commission for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, said the Accountant-General’s invitation was a plot to cripple the state.
He added that the loans have been repaid by the state government.
Nehikhare said: “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.
“The said officer is now also being detained by the agency at Abuja, in addition to the others who were originally invited and honoured the invitation.
“The EFCC seems intent on crippling governance in Edo State and acting out a script that portends grave danger to democracy. 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.
“In fact, from Monday, the government would have been grounded and will no longer be able to meet up with basic responsibilities and obligations.
“This devious action is most condemnable and reprehensible and we urge the EFCC to act responsibly in the interest of democracy, justice, peace, and the wellbeing of Edo people and immediately release these government officials, and not throw Edo State into chaos.”
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