Edo to institute criminal actions against Oshiomhole as panel indicts APC chair

The Edo state government has received a report of the judicial commission of inquiry into the construction of Edo Specialist Hospital and supply of its equipment.

The report indicted the administration of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole for breach of the state’s Public Procurement Law.

Chairman of the commission, Justice James Oyomire (rtd.), who presented the findings to Governor Godwin Obaseki at Government House in Benin City on Thursday, May 14 said the contract for the construction of the hospital was fraught with breaches of the state’s laws.

These are not the best of times for Comrade Adams Oshiomhole. Photo credit: APC media
Source: Twitter

According to him, the procurement law clearly states that any contractor working on a government project should not receive more than 25 per cent upfront payment upon contract award, which Oshiomhole’s administration allegedly contravened.

His words: “The immediate past administration paid 75 per cent of the contract sum upfront for the project to Vamed Engineering.”

Part of the commission’s eight-point recommendation includes that the ministry of justice should institute civil and criminal actions against those found culpable in the breach of the law.

Obaseki, while receiving the report, assured that anyone found culpable, no matter how highly placed, would be called to account for their action.

His words: “We have been putting the right measures in place and if there are resources of government that need to be returned, we will not hesitate to ask for it.

“Since I came into office, you cannot find this type of breach you have mentioned. If people have to face prosecution, whether civil or criminal, they have to be prosecuted.

“When you are given a public trust, so much is expected from you and there is a responsibility to maintain that public trust.”

Oshiomhole is the immediate past governor of the state and current national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The APC national chairman is currently enmeshed in a political battle with his successor, Governor Obaseki, over control of the party machinery in the state.