Osaze Osemwingie-Ero, the Edo State Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Tourism under the administration of Governor Godwin Obaseki, has been arrested by operatives of INTERPOL for alleged money laundering in France.
THE OBSERVERS TIMES can authoritatively report that Osemwingie-Ero, who was said to have been detained and interrogated by INTERPOL, was reportedly arrested in France since last month for being in possession of $2 million.
Political opponents claimed the money was given to him by Governor Obaseki as he was accompanying the governor to a foreign trip, The Nation reports.
Another source told the newspaper that Obaseki’s Commissioner was being questioned for an offence he committed seven years ago.
A top government official, who pleaded anonymity, said the state government was aware of the questioning of the commissioner by INTERPOL for an offence committed before he was appointed by Governor Obaseki.
On the sum of $2m found on Obaseki’s Commissioner, the source said it was yet to be confirmed whether any money was found on him.
Reacting to the development, the Edo State Government said the alleged arrest of Osemwingie-Ero had nothing to do with Governor Obaseki.
Crusoe Osagie, the Special Adviser to the Edo State Governor on Media and Communication Strategy, said the state government could not confirm the alleged arrest of the commissioner.
His words: “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,” he said.