The Coalition for Good Governance and Economic Justice in Africa (CGGEJA) has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Commission (ICPC) to as a matter of urgency begin to probe the administration of governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo state.
The group was reacting to the report of the arrest of a ranking member of the cabinet, Mr. Osaze Osemwingie-Ero, by the International police in France for an alleged money laundering.
The NGO during at a press conference Sunday in Abuja by its Country Director, John Mayaki, called for a public inquiry into the reported charges of money laundering while also lampooning governor Obaseki for damaging public trust.
The NGO called on the EFCC to immediately launch an investigation into the said crime while also expanding its scope to the several Memorandum of Understanding [MOUs] by the Obaseki-administration involving millions of dollars.
Mayaki said, “It’s safe to say here that the public trust has been badly damaged by these allegations of money laundering in Europe”, the statement read.
“The EFCC has to immediately intervene to save the country and the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari from looming international embarrassment since major national newspapers already reported the discovery of the dirty money allegedly amounting to $2m.”
“The poor response from the Edo state government over this humongous scandal and the attempt to conceal the dirty money while also denying the victim (Mr. Osaze Osewingie Ero), is an indication that Governor Godwin Obaseki has inadvertently owned up to the crime and must be brought to book.”
Mayaki said the public condemnation trailing the arrest and criminal discovery both home and abroad reinforces that Nigerians detest corruption and mismanagement of public funds and it is, therefore, the EFCC’s obligation to bring under scrutiny the financial records and dealings of the Edo state government, particularly as it concerns the spurious signing of MOUs and other arranged partnership with some foreign bodies where only sums are supposedly paid without transparency or implementation.
