Edo moves to recover $31m from ex-governor

Edo State Government has uncovered $31 million allegedly siphoned from the coffers of the state during the administration of a former governor of the state and directed the Attorney-General to commence legal processes to recover same.

This was part of the decision reached at the end of the State Executive Council, SEC, meeting held in the state capital, yesterday.

Uncovered fraud

Briefing the press at the end of the meeting, Commissioner for Information, Mr Louis Odion  said: “There is the issue of a fraud that was discovered while turning our books. We found that the $31 million was fraudulently taken from state coffers under a past administration in state. The governor has directed the Attorney-General to commence legal action in that direction. So, in the coming days, the state government will take legal action to ensure that what was stolen from Edo State Government is recovered. When you convert $31 million to naira, it fetches you a whopping N7 billion. You can imagine what N7 billion will do in improving the human condition in Edo State.”

The commissioner, who praised some landlords and companies in the state on the level of their compliance with the land use charge, said Governor Oshiomhole asked him to convey his appreciation and gratitude to the people of Edo State as well as members of the private sector for their voluntary compliance with the Land Use Charge.

Challenge

“He has asked me to single out Coca-Cola Bottling Company for voluntary compliance. I think we need to put this in context. Our challenge as a government is mounting. Every day, our citizens want government to intervene, they want schools to be built, they want roads reconstructed but the truth is that our revenue is dwindling and without deepening the tax base, we won’t be able to deliver. So, when we find corporate bodies and citizens who voluntarily comply by paying their taxes, we view them as partners in progress.
VANGUARD