The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have been called upon to freeze the Edo State accounts to avoid pilferage of monies belonging to the people of the state.

The Network of Edo Lawyers, who are behind the call, in a statement on Thursday in Abuja, claimed that the call was based on an alleged move by the outgoing governor of the state, Mr. Godwin Obaseki to “withdraw government money at every cost”.

The lawyers led by Mr. Julius Ilenkhe alleged a plot by Governor Obaseki to swear in a new Accountant-General as part of the grand design to achieve the goal.

In a petition to the EFCC, the group of lawyers also called on the Nigeria Police Force to wade into the matter in the interest of the people of the state.

According to the lawyers, there is an urgent need to block Obaseki from collecting all Edo State resources from agencies of government, especially the revenue-generating bodies within a few hours to the end of his tenure.

“These monies belong to Edo state and not Obaseki. He tried to use supplementary budget, which the Speaker of Edo state turned down. Now he wants to clear the state accounts in all the banks by appointing a new Accountant General since the former Accountant General was cooling off with EFCC over suspicious withdrawal of over N14 billion last week,” they alleged.

“The race to protect Edo state must be collective as one man cannot destroy the state because of his high appetite for public funds put under his care. Since he cannot manage his greed, it is important that all security agencies and the good people of the state and Nigeria join hands together to prevent this arbitrary looting of public funds by one man.

“Obaseki is not spending money on any transition process so what does he need these billions of naira for if not for his personal aggrandisement.”