Metro

Okpebholo Inherited N682bn Debt From Obaseki Govt – Committee

Published

7 months ago

February 5, 2025

The Edo State Asset Verification Committee has reported that the administration of former Governor Godwin Obaseki left behind a debt profile of N682.57 billion.

Chairman of the committee, Ernest Umakhihe, presented the findings to Governor Monday Okpebholo on Wednesday, revealing financial irregularities and questionable contract awards under the previous administration.

A review of the committee’s 3,900-page report showed that the debt inherited by Obaseki’s government in 2016 was N84 billion, meaning the state’s liabilities increased by over 900% during his tenure.

The committee said there were noticeable anomalies in the way contracts were awarded in the last administration and urged that all the contracts and Memorandum of Understanding be reviewed.

According to the report, the state government invested N19 billion in an ongoing hotel project but reportedly owns just 20%, while a company allegedly established in 2024 controls the remaining 80% despite not contributing any funds at the time of the agreement.

The report also noted that the past administration awarded 22 contracts worth N22 billion for ICT-related projects to 18 companies, with N17 billion paid as of November 2024.

The report also raised concerns over non-state actors managing the e-governance platform’s backend.

The committee flagged irregularities in several projects, including the modular refinery, the Museum of West African Arts, and the renovation of Stella Obasanjo Hospital, which was commissioned without being completed despite costing nearly N1 billion.

The report claimed that of the $75 million World Bank funding for basic education reforms, only $5 million reached the Edo State Universal Basic Education Board, with just $2.5 million accessed before the project ended. The remaining $70 million was reportedly managed directly by Obaseki’s office under a “Performance for Results” arrangement.

The committee recommended, among others, forensic analysis and investigation on ownership of companies, enterprises, properties in Abuja, Lagos and other locations where Edo State had prior interest before Godwin Obaseki’s tenure, prosecution of indicated ex-officials, the blacklisting of indicted companies and full prosecution of contractors that ran afoul of the laws of the state and the full investigation of the Edo BEST programme, particularly the utilisation of the $75m from the World Bank.

Receiving the committee’s report at the Government House in Benin City, Okpebholo commended the team for their dedication and assured them that their recommendations would be acted upon.

“I appreciate the committee for a job well done and the time invested in this exercise. I understand the challenges you faced, yet you successfully carried out this crucial assignment. Rest assured that your findings and recommendations will be implemented appropriately,” the governor stated.

Umakhihe, on his part, emphasised that the findings were not just a reflection of past actions but a call to action for the future.

But when contacted, the Special Adviser to Obaseki as governor on Media Projects, Crusoe Osagie, denied the allegations, saying the committee was deliberately misinforming the public and misinterpreting what transpired in the Obaseki administration.

“For the benefit of the people of Edo State and the public, every activity of the government was in the report of the transition committee, which was handed to the new government. Everything raised in their so-called verification committee is nothing but falsehood and in the coming days.

“We will publish everything item by item for the people of the state to see. The Okpebholo government is in possession of everything that the Obaseki government did and what the committee is claiming is all false,” he said.

Related Topics:Edo State Obaseki Okpebholo

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Metro

My Husband Fought, Abandoned Me Cos’ I’m Barren, Woman Tells Court

Published

2 hours ago

August 23, 2025

Editor

A woman, Wasilat Saka, has pleaded with a Grade 1 Area Court in Kubwa, Abuja (Federal Capital Territory), to dissolve her marriage to her husband, Tajudeen Jimoh, over alleged abandonment and conflicting faith beliefs.

Wasilat told the court that she got married to Jimoh under Islamic Law on July 30, 2022, adding that their marriage did not produce any children.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), she alleged that Jimoh, who claimed to be a Muslim, abandoned her for months shortly after they got married while refusing to perform necessary Islamic rites.

“My husband does not observe the five daily prayers and the Ramadan fast.

“We always quarrel and fight for these reasons.

“I beg the court to grant my request of divorce,” Wasilat said.

Jimoh was absent in court despite being served with the hearing notice.

The judge, Ibrahim Rufai, adjourned the case.

Metro

Our First Child Beat Me Blue And Black After My Wife Turned Them Against Me —Man

Published

3 hours ago

August 23, 2025

Editor

…That was the easiest way I made him pay their fees —Wife

Grade A Customary Court, Court 2, sitting at Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State, has given judgment on a divorce suit brought before it by a man, Tajudeen, who dragged his wife, Kafayat, to court, accusing her of showing him no love or affection.

He added that she was troublesome and violent and that she refused to let him have peace of mind.

Tajudeen stated that Kafayat was defiant and never listened to him nor took instruction from him.

The plaintiff explained that the defendant was brutal and always sought every opportunity to fight and hurt him with any dangerous object within her reach.

He added that she refused that he give their children proper training, and that she turned them against him.

According to him, the eldest of their children beat him till he was almost unconscious in the presence of his wife and she saw nothing bad in it.

Tajudeen explained that Kafayat constantly came to his office to fight and disgrace him.

The plaintiff stated that he was fed up with his wife’s unruly behaviour and thus pleaded for divorce.

Kafayat refused that their union be dissolved, stating that she and her husband jointly built their house.

The defendant did not deny being defiant and in the habit of fighting her husband even in his office.

According to her, that was the only way she made her husband commit to his responsibilities in the home and, more importantly, pay their children’s school fees.

Tajudeen, in his evidence, said, “My wife and I got married under Islamic Law and I paid her bride price.

“My marriage to my wife is void of love and care. She made our home a hell to live in.

“I no longer have a say in our home because my wife is rebellious. She never listens to me nor takes orders from me. She would turn every argument between us into a fight.

“Kafayat being a violent person always hits me with dangerous objects within her reach. The scars on my body tell the story.

“Much worse is the fact that my wife refused that I train our children and always instigates them against me.

“The strain in the relationship between our children and me led to our eldest child beating me till I almost fainted.

“My wife was present at the scene and she neither restrained our son nor rebuked him.

“My wife is still not satisfied and would come to my office to fight and disgrace me.

“My lord, I have had enough of my wife and children’s waywardness and cannot take it any longer.

“I pray this honourable court to end our marriage and grant me custody of our children so that I can give them proper training.

“I also request an order restricting her from coming to my office to fight me.”

Kafayat in her response said: “What my husband said is not totally true.

“We met in 1997 and he impregnated me.

“I started living with him although no marital rites were carried out on my behalf. He in addition did not pay my bride price.

“My lord, I do not agree to divorce because we both contributed towards building the house we are living in.

“It is true that I fight him even in his office. I discovered that was the only way I could force him to be committed to his responsibilities in the home and especially paying our children’s school fees.”

Ruling, the court president, Mrs. O. E. Owoseni, said there was no marriage to be dissolved since no customary marriage was held and no bride price was paid.

Metro

My Wife Harasses, Slaps Me All The Time —Husband

Published

3 hours ago

August 23, 2025

Editor

…He’s a liar —Wife

A businessman, Raphel Chima, has dragged his wife, Joy, before a customary court in Jikwoyi, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), because she always beat him.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Raphael made the allegation in a divorce petition he filed against Joy before the court.Newspaper-inspired merchandise

“My wife physically abuses and harasses me.

“She slaps me at the slightest chance. She abuses me mentally,” he said.

He also told the court that his wife was disrespectful to his parents.

The petitioner told the court that his wife had long abandoned their only child and that he had been the one caring for him.

He prayed the court to dissolve the marriage between him and his wife and grant him custody of their child.

The respondent, Joy, denied the allegations.

The presiding judge, Dada Oluwaseyi, advised the couple to explore reconciliation.

He then adjourned the case.