Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo
By EMMANUEL JIMOH, Benin–
Edo State Government has given former Deputy Governor, Mr. Godwin Omobayo, a seven-day deadline to return all government properties and assets still in his possession or face arrest.
This directive was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday in Benin by Fred Itua, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Monday Okpebholo.
According to the statement, several official items — including vehicles, documents, and other state-owned assets — allocated to Omobayo during his time in office have not been returned, despite multiple formal reminders from the government.
Reaffirming that all items obtained or used in the course of public service remain the property of the state, the government warned that holding on to such assets amounts to a “breach of public trust and unlawful possession of state property.”
> “Accordingly, Mr. Omobayo is hereby given a period of seven days from the date of this release to comply fully by returning all government property under his custody to the Office of the Secretary to the State Government,” the statement read.
It further cautioned that failure to comply within the stipulated period would leave the state government with no option but to direct the Commissioner of Police, Edo State Command, to arrest Mr. Omobayo and recover the assets through lawful means.
The government reiterated its commitment to accountability, transparency, and the protection of public resources, stressing that no one — regardless of their former position or political affiliation — would be allowed to appropriate state property.
> “This administration, under the leadership of Governor Monday Okpebholo, will continue to uphold the principles of transparency, discipline, and integrity in public service, ensuring that all public officers are held to the highest standards of responsibility and probity,” the statement added.
The Edo government urged the former deputy governor to comply promptly with the directive and avoid actions that could attract legal consequences or public embarrassment.
