The Edo State Government has issued a 72-hour ultimatum to Asue Ighodalo, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the recent gubernatorial election, and other party supporters to return government vehicles currently in their possession.
Kelly Okungbowa, the Chairman of the Government Assets Recovery Committee, appointed by Governor Monday Okpebholo, made the announcement on Tuesday. The committee was established to recover government assets, including vehicles that remain in the hands of private individuals.
Okungbowa, speaking to journalists, revealed that several vehicles from the defunct government transport company, Edo Line, had allegedly been sold and were recently discovered in a spare parts market in Benin City, the state capital.
“We urge those whose names have come up in connection with these vehicles to return them to the authorities,” Okungbowa said. “These vehicles are not private property; they belong to the state government and the people of Edo.
We all understand the cost of acquiring a vehicle—just one brand-new Hilux costs around N120 million. Where do they expect the governor to find that kind of money to purchase new vehicles?”
He continued, “We appeal especially to the PDP candidate, Barrister Asue Ighodalo, and his running mate. As a father and leader of the state, it is important for them to do the right thing and return the vehicles.”
Okungbowa further explained that the recovered vehicles would be reallocated to state agencies as directed by the governor. He also recounted a visit by Governor Okpebholo to Edo Line during his campaign, where he had promised to revitalize the company, only to find that the vehicles had been sold off.
“We received information and visited Uwelo Spareparts, where we found about 12 vehicles—six of them were operational, and six were not. We have video evidence of this,” he stated.
While appealing for the return of the vehicles, Okungbowa emphasized that the government would act according to the law. “We are not here to witch-hunt anyone. We know where some of the vehicles are kept—some have been taken to Lagos, Abuja, and Abeokuta—but we still appeal for them to follow due process,” he said.
The committee also named officials from the previous administration who are allegedly in possession of government vehicles and urged them to return the assets within 72 hours. “If they fail to comply, we will take appropriate action,” Okungbowa warned.
