Edo APC Accuses Governor Obaseki of Corruption, Calls for EFCC Investigation into Benin City Mall Project

APC Accuses Governor Obaseki of Corruption, Calls for EFCC Investigation into Benin City Mall Project

Benin City,– The All Progressives Congress (APC) has issued a press release accusing Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, of severe corruption and mismanagement of state resources, particularly concerning the Benin City Mall project. The APC has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate these allegations thoroughly.

In a press conference held at the APC Secretariat, the party highlighted several concerns. Last week, the APC had raised alarms about the escalating costs and questionable management of the Radisson Hotel project, which ballooned from N19.4 billion to over N23 billion within a year. The party questioned the ownership and the urgency behind the governor’s attempts to sell the incomplete hotel to a private entity.

The APC now brings attention to the Benin City Mall project, originally set to house a Shoprite. The party claims the project has become a conduit for siphoning state funds into private hands, with costs escalating from an initial N5.4 billion to over N12 billion. The APC alleges the contract was mysteriously transferred from A&K Construction Limited to Shapoorji Palloji Nigeria Limited, with numerous questionable variations approved by the state government.

The party’s press release points out several key issues:

1. Ownership and Stake Questions: The role of Redwire Marketing Company and its connection to Governor Obaseki.
2. Management Concerns: Why the mall’s management was handed over to Broll Property Services Limited instead of Shoprite.
3. Escalating Costs: The reasons behind the dramatic increase in project costs and the repeated approval of variations.
4. Edo State Government’s Share: The unclear equity distribution between the Edo State Government and Persianas Nigeria Limited, the entity associated with Shoprite.

APC Chairman, Emperor Jarrett Tenebe, stated, “We are calling on the EFCC to investigate the individuals involved, including the Secretary to the State Government, the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, and the Chief of Staff to Governor Obaseki, among others, to recover state resources.”

The APC urges the EFCC to act promptly to ensure transparency and accountability in the use of public funds, highlighting the need to reclaim Edo State from what they describe as a “gang of capitalists” intent on privatizing state resources.