As the Transition Committee in Edo State awaits the clarification of the stake owned by Edo State Government in the ownership of some properties, palpable fear has enveloped Government House over the out-going Governor’s silence on Ossiomo Power Plant, Edo Modular Refinery and the Radisson Blu Hotel.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the incoming All Progressives Congress (APC) Committees, held a joint session where facts about the three companies were discussed.

The PDP team, during the meeting, promised that the matter will be discussed with Governor Godwin Obaseki.

The APC team, which requested documents on the ownership and stake of Edo state government in the projects, were stunned when the government officials feigned ignorance in such mega projects that cost taxpayers several billions of naira.

A petition addressed to the Transition Committee and copied to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), is said to be unsettling Governor Obaseki who will be handing over to Senator Monday Okpebholo in less than two weeks.

The petition, signed by Comrade Samuel Osawaru of the Edo Integrity Group, is believed to be working from the Obaseki team.

The group stated that Quadrant Consolidated Systems Engineering Limited, allegedly owned by Uwagboe Igiehon and Mark Igiehon, was being used for the financial transactions including “receiving of revenues for themselves and on behalf of Ossiomo Power Project” from Edo state government coffers.

The group, which named Chinese Clean Energy and Telecom Company (CCETC) as the technical partners of Ossiomo Power Project, also disclosed that both the CCETC and Ossiomo were holding companies for the owners of the plant.

It added that majority of Edo State Government agencies pay their tariff to the Ossiomo Power Plant through estimated billing but the company has quickly resorted to metering of the government agencies since 21st September 2024, when PDP lost election.

The Edo Integrity Group which stated that it was fighting corruption in Edo State, appealed to the Transition Committee and the EFCC “to beam search light on the activities of Ossiomo Power Plant as a lot has happened there” in the past few years.

In a related development, an anonymous letter addressed to security agencies has indicted Governor Obaseki over the acquisition of Edo Modular Refinery and Radisson Blu Hotels, which were both funded with tax-payers money but converted to private ownership.

The letter urged the security agencies to investigate the funding of both companies which were from Edo state government “but not included as assets of Edo state in the ongoing handover notes for the in-coming administration.”

The writers of the petition also revealed that they were staff of Edo State Government and members of the PDP Transition Committee “but were not allowed to function as all documents and directives were from Governor Obaseki, mostly through telephone calls.”

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They called for thorough investigation stating their “resolve to disclose information because of their allegiance to the state and not to any individual.”

The owners of the American-Dutch based Radisson Blu were said to be uncomfortable with their brand being drawn into corruption allegations and have written several letters to the governor indicating willingness to pull out of the partnership and franchise for integrity’s sake.

Radisson Blu hotels are mainly located in major cities across Europe, Middle East and Africa and owned by Choice Hotels, Jinjiang International and Radisson Hotel Group with headquarters in USA and Belgium.

Deputy Governor of Edo state, Philip Shuaibu, had last month inspected the site of the Radisson Blu hotels sending indications that the project was being funded by the Edo state government.

But the new twist emerged as the Government did not declare it as property of the state. The Government did not also capture it in the handover notes to the transition committee.

An Abuja Court located in the Kuje area of the Federal Capital Territory has arraigned a member of the House of Representatives from Abia State, Honourable Alex Ikwechegh for assaulting a bolt driver, Stephen Abuwatseya at the Kuje Magistrate Court.

The probe and prosecution of Ikwechegh are being handled by the Inspector General of Police’s Special Investigation Unit.

The lawmaker, representing Aba North and South Federal Constituency in Abia State, was recently captured in a viral video physically assaulting a bolt driver, Stephen Abuwatseya.

The incident occurred on October 27 when the driver was delivering a package to the lawmaker at a residence on Zamfara Crescent, Maitama, Abuja.

Nigerians have continued to react and condemn the lawmaker’s actions.

Amid the outcry, the embattled lawmaker apologized and promised to cooperate with the police in their investigation. He also disclosed that he was seeking counseling over his actions.

As part of his efforts to improve the health care needs of his constituents, the senator representing Benue South Senatorial District and Senate Minority Leader, Comrade Abba Moro, on Tuesday distributed drugs worth millions of naira for healthcare centers in parts of the senatorial district.

Senator Moro said the drugs were procured to bridge medical gaps in the senatorial district, especially with the rising costs of drugs. He charged health workers in the benefiting healthcare centers to make proper use of the drugs and ensure that the rural populace benefits from them.

Senator Moro who has successfully built four healthcare centers in Okpokwu, Ado, Oju and Ohomini LGAs, awaiting take off, and has facilitated the construction of same in Otukpo, Obi, Agatu and Apa LGAs as captured in the 2024 budge, is committed to improving healthcare services at the grassroots.