Edo Gov Okpebholo Vows to Probe Obaseki Over Alleged ₦8bn Software Consultancy Payments

• Okpebholo said a Commission of Inquiry would be set up, claiming Obaseki used consultants to run the state and paid ₦6bn and ₦2bn respectively for software under EdoGIS.

Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo has vowed to probe former Governor Godwin Obaseki’s administration, alleging over ₦8 billion was paid to consultants for software.

Speaking after his Supreme Court victory, Okpebholo said a Commission of Inquiry would be set up, claiming Obaseki used consultants to run the state and paid ₦6bn and ₦2bn respectively for software under EdoGIS.

According to him, “I directed the training of our own people who are now handling the job. We have sent the consultant away from the State, saving money to develop Edo State.

“Our civil servants are well-trained. We have the best brains in the State, but Godwin Obaseki used consultants instead of utilising the human resources in the State. We are saving money today as a Government because we are using the civil servants to do the jobs consultants were formerly doing.

“We are just about eight months in office, but by the time we are two years in office, Edo people will know they have a Governor who is ready to work for the interest of the people.

“I will open the books to check the financial dealings and how Obaseki governed Edo State in the last eight years. A university in this state received N47 million under Obaseki’s administration, while he paid a consultant N51 million. This was not good enough. They wanted to continue with this act, but God helped us to push them out.
“Since I came into office, I have not sacked anybody but rather continued with the civil servants I met in the office.

“The Head of Service during Obaseki’s administration is still working with me. So also a lot of Permanent Secretaries in the civil service. Edo was tired of transactional people but now we will look into their records. We will set up a Commission of Inquiry to look into the books and dealings of the previous administration. We will open an interrogation to check their records. They have finished fighting us, and now I am ready to fight back and ensure that all those that cheated Edo people in the last eight years are all brought to book”.