BENIN CITY-Edo State Customary Court is investigating suspected N32million fraud which may have been committed by some of its principal staff at the directorate headquarters in Benin City.
The fraud it was gathered may have been committed between January 1st and July 31st, 2015 when courts were on strike in Edo State.
Commenting on the perceived fraud in Benin City, the President, Edo State Customary Court of Appeal Hon. Justice Peter Isibor disclosed that a four-man panel of inquiry has been constituted to that effect.
Hon. Justice Isibor gave the names of the Committee members as Hon. Justice T.U Obo, Chairman; Hon. Justice P. A Akhihiero, member; Hon. Justice O. Ovbiagele, member, but later withdrawn his membership and, Hon. T. A Momodu, secretary.
He said the mandate of the Committee included verification of income and expenditure of the directorate between the period 1st January and 31st July, 2015.
“The terms of reference shall be; A: To ascertain and verify all income and expenditure for this directorate for the period stated above.
“B: To ascertain whether there was any fraud committed.
“C: To recommend appropriate measures for the disbursement of all incomes henceforth, and “D: To recommend measures for shoring up income of this directorate in future”. Hon. Justice Isibor explained.
He disclosed that the committee which was constituted on Thursday, August 13, 2015 had its period extended by two weeks after its original six weeks elapsed, last week.
The Customary Court President further explained that the said N32million was overhead paid to the directorate by the Edo State Government for the months of January to April, specifically.
“I have been very circumspect when it comes to the management of funds here, I have been very circumspect indeed, unless I see what they want to use funds for and I find that it is reasonable, I don’t approve.
“But, to the best of my knowledge all my approvals certainly have been predicated on the utility and usefulness of any request made”. He maintained.
He however stated that for now a case of fraud or mismanagement of funds has not been established in the directorate until the panel submits its report.
