A group under the umbrella of Concerned Edo Citizens, has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to investigate alleged impunity and corruption perpetrated by the Adams Oshiomhole administration in the construction and procurement of equipment for Edo Specialist Hospital.
The group in a peaceful protest to the Benin zonal office of the EFCC, said they were at the anti-graft office to remind them of the alleged misappropriation of funds running into billions of naira.
Speaking on behalf of the group, Teddy Osagunywenwan, said the protest is in line with the recent call to end police brutality, corruption amongst others.
“We were here three months ago, and we are here again in form of a protest to ask the EFCC to investigate the circumstances that led to the loss of billions of naira in the hospital project. They were unable to equip the hospital and through that process, we have lost several persons in Edo state.
He said they had submitted a petition through their lawyer as instructed by the commission during their protest three months ago but till now nothing happened.
Meanwhile, EFCC Head of Public Affairs in Benin, Williams Oseghale, who received the protesters, assured them that the Commission will look into the petition.
When contacted for response, spokesman to the former governor, Victor Oshioke, said he would make a formal response after reading the protesters’ demand in the press.
“I cannot react if I do not see exactly what they said. Maybe you can go to press, we will bring out a reply when we read it,” he said.
It would be recalled that the state governor, Godwin Obaseki, had inaugurated a Commission of Inquiry, led by Justice James Oyomire, to look into the construction of Edo Specialist Hospital and supply of equipment for the Hospital.
The Commission’s findings indicted the immediate-past governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, for breach of the state’s procurement laws in the award of 75 percent of the contract sum upfront for the project instead of 25 percent upfront payment upon contract award for the construction of the hospital.
