By GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

BENIN – EDO State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has called on security agencies in the state to investigate the alleged looting of council funds and property by transition chairmen, following their sack by a state High Court sitting in Ekpoma.

The court had, in the suit by Mr. Tony Okoigene against the Edo State governor and others, set aside the resolution of the Edo State House of Assembly of June 1, 2011 which extended the tenure of the local government area chairmen, among others.

Meanwhile, the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Louis Odion, who confirmed the court’s judgment, said that the state government would appeal against same.

Similarly, transition caretaker committee chairman, Mrs. Stella Okoro, who was accused of impropriety, has challenged PDP and Mr. Okharedia Ihimekpen to substantiate their allegations, adding,  “they should first find out from the council, my overhead and salary before making the allegation. They are just doing this to blackmail the council.”

PDP, in a statement by Mr. Ihimepen, Director of Publicity, said the call on the security agents became important to protect the councils’ property. He called on the council workers and National Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, to  protect government property.

The party said that it was drawing the attention of the public to the action by yet-to-be-identified persons of looting councils funds and property, following a court judgment of May 16, 2012 declaring the local government councils caretaker committees in the state, illegal.

”Information is also rife that the sacked Caretaker Committee members and some staffers of the councils especially in Esan West Local Government Area are involved in this act of looting both funds and material items.”