Benin City, Nigeria – July 12, 2025
Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has announced plans to launch a full-scale investigation into the administration of his predecessor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, over alleged financial irregularities, including the reported payment of N8 billion to consultants for software development.
Speaking during a post-victory parade in Benin City on Friday, Governor Okpebholo disclosed that the sum was paid in two tranches — ₦6 billion and ₦2 billion — to a single consultant for what he described as “ordinary software.” The Merit Newspaper reports that Governor Okpebholo questioned the rationale behind such an expenditure, saying the state could have built a better solution internally without such a hefty cost.
“We discovered that over N8 billion was paid to one consultant for software alone,” the governor stated. “This is shocking. My government has since developed our own software in-house using our team of young, talented professionals. We have disengaged the consultant and saved billions of naira in the process.”
READ ALSO:Suspension Is Not Removal: The Ignorance Tearing Nigeria’s Politics Apart
Governor Okpebholo said his administration has already begun reviewing the financial records of the immediate past government and will set up a commission of inquiry to audit major contracts and expenditures.
“This is just one of many questionable transactions we have found. I want the people of Edo State to know that we will open the books. No one will be spared,” he declared.
The governor’s statement has sparked widespread reactions, with civil society groups calling for transparency and the inclusion of independent auditors in the proposed probe.
Although the Obaseki-led administration is yet to officially respond to the allegations, some former aides have dismissed the governor’s claims as “politically motivated.”
Governor Okpebholo, who was recently sworn in following the outcome of the Supreme Court judgment that nullified the result of the 2024 governorship election, has pledged to prioritize transparency, youth empowerment, and public sector reform during his tenure.
READ ALSO:THE MERIT NEWSPAPER – EDITORIAL Peter Obi and the Politics of Performance
Observers believe the outcome of the proposed investigation could significantly impact the political climate in Edo State as the government promises to release its findings to the public.
