Edo Last Minute Fraud Bonanza: How AG Uzzi, SUBEB Chairman Salami Changed Bank Mandate to Withdraw N100m for Rodents Eradication Program in Primary Schools

A major crisis of confidence is brewing within Edo State Executive Council, few days to its’ termination, following the illegal and unethical decision of the State’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice decision to collude with the chairperson of State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) to withdraw large sum of money from a First Generation Bank.

Mr. Wole Uzzi’s problems started few weeks to the September 21, 2024 gubernatorial election, when the Chairperson of SUBEB, Mrs. Tayo Salami, requested the assistance of the Attorney General in writing a letter to a First Generation bank, to change the certified signatories to the Ministry of Education account with the bank, after complaining of non-cooperation from the Commissioner of Education, Dr Joan Oviawe.

Sources within the Edo State Ministry of Education told Midwest Herald Correspondent that early this year, the World Bank approved a grant of N200 million to the Ministry of Education for ‘sundry educational projects.’ The money was domiciled with the First Generational bank, and was only drawable upon two signatories from SUBEB and Ministry of Education, signing the cheque.

According to our sources, Mrs. Salami who Midwest Herald had earlier reported as being notorious for financial profligacy and breaches for external financial regulations, leading to the squandering of 75 million US dollars and billions of naira of loans and donors grants, including from the World Bank, approached the Ministry of Education; for counterpart signing of the sum of 100 Million naira for the ‘rodents eradication program’ in primary schools in Edo State.

The recalcitrant Salami was rebuked and told to stay clear of the World Bank money.

Undeterred, the SUBEB boss, approached the Attorney General, Wole Uzzi asking for his help to write a letter to the Bank where the N200 million was deposited, declaring that the accredited co-signatory from the Ministry of Education has retired, even with the full knowledge that it was a lie.

Working upon a promise of an alleged handsome reward, the usually reticent Attorney- General fell for the ruse and wrote a letter to the bank without verification from the Education Ministry or making enquiries from his colleague, the Commissioner of Education.

The bank acting upon the letter from Uzzi, which proposed a new signatory, solely and fraudulently suggested by Mrs. Salami from her agency, released the sum of 100 Million Naira to her to eradicate rodents from primary schools in Edo State, a project Midwest Herald learnt has no connection with education, but for vote buying in the last gubernatorial election.

None of the two actors that are allegedly involved in this latest scam volunteered information on their culpability when they were contacted. Midwest Herald’s message to Uzzi which he declined his response, reads: “Good morning. Please we are working on a fraud story relating to the fraudulent withdrawal of N100m by the SUBEB chairman and your involvement through change of bank mandate. Your reaction is needed ASAP. Enjoy your Sunday!”

Similarly, the Attorney General counterpart in SUBEB, Mrs. Salami refused to acknowledge this massage: “Good morning. Please we are working on a fraud story relating to the fraudulent withdrawal of N100m by the SUBEB chairman. Your reaction is needed ASAP. Enjoy your Sunday!”

It will be recalled that, the Governor-Elect Senator Monday Okpebholo had recently disclosed the ongoing last minute looting in the different ministries and agencies in Edo State, wherein he cautioned banks to stop advancing loans and disbursing funds to agents of the outgoing Peoples Democratic Party administration of Governor Godwin Obaseki.

Presently, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is probing the administration of Obaseki on all front, including the diversion of billions of naira of local government funds by the Commissioner of Local Government, Mr. Monday Osaigbovo, the failed Central Bank agriculture support loan that Obaseki shared to PDP leaders and several other diversions of government funds.