The Edo State Government has issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the last election, Asue Ighodalo, his running mate, and other individuals to return state-owned vehicles in their possession.

This directive was given by the Chairman of the Government Assets Recovery Committee, Kelly Okungbowa, on Tuesday.

Okungbowa, who was recently appointed by Governor Monday Okpebholo, had set up an assets recovery committee to recover government assets, including vehicles still in the hands of private individuals.

Okungbowa revealed that some vehicles belonging to the now-defunct state transport company, Edo Line, had allegedly been sold off and discovered in spare parts markets across Benin City.

“We want to use this medium to appeal to those people whose names have been mentioned to please return those vehicles to the authorities because they are not my property. Those vehicles are the property of the state government, for the Edo people. And we all know the cost of buying one vehicle. To buy a brand-new Hilux costs you nothing less than N120 million. Where do they expect the governor to get that kind of money to purchase new vehicles?” Okungbowa told journalists.

Okungbowa also specifically called on Ighodalo and his running mate to comply, noting that they should do the right thing by returning those vehicles.

The chairman also disclosed that, during a recent inspection at Uwelo Spare Parts Market, 12 Edo Line vehicles were discovered, with six in usable condition and six unserviceable.

He added, “Mr. Governor went to Edo Line during the time of his electoral campaign. He said he would revamp Edo Line. When we got there, there was no vehicle. We got some information that those vehicles were taken from the Edo Line and sold. This morning, we got information, and we went to a place called Uwelo Spare Parts. We discovered about 12 vehicles there. Six were movable, six were not movable. We have the video here.”

He added that the vehicles the governor has directed should be reallocated to the agencies.

He also listed the names of officials attached to the previous administration who are allegedly still in possession of government vehicles and advised that such vehicles be returned within 72 hours.

If the cars are not returned within 72 hours, Okungbowa threatened, the government will be forced to take further action.

“While we are appealing, the government will also decide on its own. We are not here to witch-hunt anybody. We are doing our job according to the law. It is not that we don’t know where some of them were kept. They took some of the vehicles to Lagos, Abuja, and Abeokuta. But we are appealing to them to follow due process.

“We are giving them another 72 hours to do the needful. If they fail to do it, then we will do the needful,” he added.