*Kelly Okungbowa, Chairman, Edo State Government Assets Recovery Committee, says the Committee orders the listed officials attached to the previous administration, allegedly still in possession of government vehicles to return such vehicles within 72 hours, or the authorities ‘do the needful’

Isola Moses | 绿帽献妻

Following alleged illegal sale and disposal of government vehicles to certain individuals in the state, the Edo State Government has issued a 72-hour ultimatum to Asue Ighodalo, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the last governorship election in the state, and others to return such official vehicles in their possession.

绿帽献妻 reports Kelly Okungbowa, Chairman, Government Assets Recovery Committee of the state, issued the order at a media briefing Tuesday, December 17, 2024, in Benin City, Edo State capital, to the concerned individuals to “do the right thing” by returning vehicles bought with taxpayers’ money still in their possession.

Photo: Arlin TV

It is recalled Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State recently set up an assets recovery committee to recover government assets, including vehicles, still in the hands of private individuals across the state.

Okungbowa disclosed some of the vehicles belonging to the moribund government transport company, Edo Line, were allegedly sold, and have been discovered in a spare parts market, in Benin City.

The Chairman of the Government Assets Recovery Committee also said: 鈥淲e want to use this medium to appeal to those people whose names have been mentioned, to please return those vehicles to the authorities, because they are not my property.

“Those vehicles are the property of the state government, for the Edo people. And we all know the cost of buying one vehicle.”

He further stated: “To buy a brand new Hilux costs you nothing less than N120 million. Where do they expect the governor to get that kind of money to purchase new vehicles?

鈥淲e want to appeal to them, especially the candidate of the PDP, Barrister Asue Ighodalo and his running mate.”

Okungbowa explained: “It is good for us to also advise them as a father and leader in the state, that they should do the right thing by returning those vehicles.

鈥淚t may interest you that those vehicles that have recovered- the governor has directed that we should reallocate them to the agencies, and we have done that.”

He noted: “Mr. Governor went to Edo Line during the time of his electoral campaign. He said he would revamp Edo Line. When we got there, there was no vehicle.

“We got some information that those vehicles were taken from the Edo Line and sold.

“This morning, we got information, and we went to a place called Uwelo Spare Parts.”

He revealed: “We discovered about 12 vehicles there. Six were movable, six were not movable. We have the video here.

鈥淲hile we are appealing, the government will also decide on its own. We are not here to witch-hunt anybody.”

The Chairman of the Assets Recovery Committee stated: “We are doing our job according to the law. It is not that we don鈥檛 know where some of them were kept.

“They took some of the vehicles to Lagos, Abuja, and Abeokuta. But we are appealing to them, and follow due process.”

Okungbowa as well disclosed the Committee listed the names of officials attached to the previous administration, who are allegedly still in possession of government vehicles, and advised that such vehicles be returned within 72 hours.

He asserted: “We are giving them another 72 hours to do the needful.

“If they fail to do it, then, we will do the needful.”

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