EFCC Arrests Owan West LG Chairman

The Chairman of Owan West Local Government in Edo, Mr Daniel Asekhame, was on Friday arrested by the officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged financial impropriety.

Our reports that the chairman, who had earlier conducted EFCC officials round some projects he claimed to have executed, was later whisked to Lagos for further questioning.

The anti-graft commission had been on the trail of Asekhame for more than three months before now.

Its officials last stormed the council secretariat on May 27, but failed to arrest the chairman after spending three days in the council area.

The commission is acting on a petition written by citizens and some councillors in the area, accusing the chairman of embezzling millions of naira and awarding fictitious contracts.

A source at the Sabongidda-Ora Divisional Police Headquarters confirmed the arrest, saying the EFCC operatives made an entry at the station before taking away the two-time council chairman.

The source, however, disclosed that the operatives could not arrest the council’s secretary and other top officials on their wanted list.

Meanwhile, the Chief Press Secretary to the chairman, Mr Ilevbabor Aidologie, who did not deny the chairman’s arrest, said his arrest was not as a result of corruption charges.

He explained that it was an issue of default in repayment of a loan the chairman had borrowed on the council’s behalf some years back.