The ongoing investigation of ex governor Godwin
Obaseki and key members of his government over fraud involving the disbursement
of agricultural loans and other funds from donor agencies, by the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), makes it imperative for the Governor Monday
Okpebholo Asset Verification Team to make public the names of borrowers and
debtors.
The team led by Dr. Ernest Afolabi Umakhihe must also
as a matter of public importance, physically locate the farms that such monies
were disbursed for, especially as there have been accusations that majority of
the beneficiaries are portfolio farmers who were political associates of the
former governor.
Recently, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC), arrested key civil servants based on a petition that was sponsored by
aggrieved farmers.
The commission invited the officials 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).
To demonstrate the seriousness of the Okpebholo’s
administration, the Asset Verification Team must do everything possible to
provide further evidences for the EFCC which Midwest Herald learnt, has
obtained useful statement on the alleged fraud.
There should be no sacred cow too big to be exposed,
especially as some chiefs and politicians who became emergency farmers obtained
the loan that was reportedly domiciled in one of the new generation banks,
without collateral.
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