How Edo State Commissioner Was Arrested In China For Alleged Money Laundering In Company Of Governor Obaseki

Edo state commissioner for Arts, Culture, Tourism and Diaspora, Mr. Osaze Osemwingie-Ero, is the latest in a string of top government officials arrested in foreign land for money laundering and other sundry offences.

Osemwingie-Ero was reportedly arrested in China in November for alleged money laundering, after being found in possession of US$2 million.

The commissioner was reportedly in company of his boss, Governor Godwin Obaseki whom he had accompanied to China for a business trip.

He was picked up and detained by INTERPOL who had ambushed him at an airport.

Reports say, the Commissioner was arrested and detained for an offence he allegedly committed while staying abroad some years ago.

But another version says the money was given to him by the governor during the business trip for investors drive.

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An official from the state who preferred anonymity said the state government was aware of the questioning of Osemwingie-Ero by INTEPOL for “an offence committed before he was appointed by Governor Obaseki.”

But the Special Adviser to Governor Godwin Obaseki on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, said the arrest of the commissioner has nothing to do with Governor Obaseki.

Osagie said, “We learnt about the alleged arrest of the Arts, Culture, Tourism and Diaspora Commissioner, Hon. Osaze Osemwingie-Ero, from unreliable sources on social media and we are unable to confirm either the alleged arrest or what might have led to it.

“But we can confirm without equivocation that whatever the issues might be, they are totally personal and have nothing whatsoever to do with the Edo State Government or Governor Godwin Obaseki.”

Meanwhile in a follow up statement, the Edo state Government, in its reaction by Barr. Paul Ohonbamu, (Commissioner for Information and Orientation), blamed the incident on the Oshiomhole Edo Peoples Movement whom he alleged are out to use it to scandalise the State Government and Governor Obaseki.

The statement said to have emanated from Ohonbamu’s office, alleged that the Oshiomhole group wrote the petition in which the commissioner was arrested by the Interpol.

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The statement is reproduced below:

“The attention of Edo State Government has been drawn to the rumour on social media that the Commissioner for Art, Culture, Tourism and Diaspora, Hon. Osazee Osemwengie Ero was arrested by the Interpol with the sum of $2,000,000,00.

“As a responsible Government we felt it is necessary to put the record straight,

“1. It is true the Commission of Art, Culture, Tourism and Diaspora was arrested few weeks ago when they highlighted from the Charter flight with the Governor on their way to China for an investment meeting.

“2. However, we cannot confirm whether there was such money with him as at the time he was arrested, but from our little investigation we were told he was arrested in connection with an offence he committed some years ago while in Italy, though at the point of his arrest some amount of US dollars was with him but we cannot confirm the total amount.

“3. That on our investigation, we discovered that he was arrested due to a petition written by some members of Oshiomhole Edo Peoples Movement with main aim of using it to scandalise the Government of the state and the Governor, that is why the EPM people hastily went on social media to circulate and celebrate it.

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“The Governor has also set up a three man committee to meet with the authority of the Interpol in order to ascertain the main reason why he was arrested and the Committee is to be chaired by the Commissioner for Justice.

“Edo State Government wish to state categorically that the plot of the EPM to bring down the Government of Mr Godwin Obaseki down because he refused to share Edo State money will not work as the People are fully with him. They have embarked on so many evil even to the extent of burning a market just to put the Government of Mr Godwin Obaseki in bad light”.