The Edo State Government has given the Governor-elect, Senator Monday Okpebholo, 48 hours to substantiate the looting and vandalization allegations, which he levelled against the government.
Recall that Okpebholo had raised an alarm over alleged shady loan deals and looting of government assets by officials in the outgoing Godwin Obaseki administration.
With handover less than a month away, Okpebholo warned banks and financial institutions to halt loan approvals for the outgoing government.
The lawmaker expressed concern over reports of loan acquisitions under suspicious headings and widespread looting of government properties, including vehicles, furniture, and gadgets.
In a statement by the Special Adviser to the Edo State Governor on Media Projects, Crusoe Osagie, the government challenged Okpebholo to provide the names of banks from which the government has taken any loans in the last three months according to his allegations or any other evidence to validate his spurious and baseless claims, in line with the principle that he who alleges must prove.
He said, “The Edo State Government is giving a 48-hour ultimatum to Senator Monday Okpebholo to provide verifiable proof to substantiate his claims that government officials are looting and vandalising assets in the State.
“We are a very serious government and there is no room for such spurious and unfounded allegations which is why we are demanding that Okpebholo and his handlers should within the next 48 hours provide credible and verifiable proof to substantiate their claims.
” Okpehbolo must understand that the business of governance in Edo State is very serious, and the office of Governor is not for palace jesters.
“It is on this ground that we demand that he, within the next 48 hours, provide empirical evidence to substantiate his spurious looting allegations against the state government.
“Otherwise, he must tender unreserved apology to the State Government.”