INTERPOL arrests Edo Commissioner for $2m money laudering

Operatives of International Police(INTERPOL) have arrested the Edo State Commissioner for Arts, Culture, Tourism and Diaspora, Mr Osaze Osemwingie-Ero, for alleged money laundering.

Osemwingie-Ero was reportedly arrested by INTERPOL in France and has been in detention since November for being in possession of $2 million.

There were unconfirmed reports that the money was given to him by Governor Godwin Obaseki when he accompanied the governor on a foreign trip to France but some other reports said the commissioner was being questioned for an offence he committed seven years ago.

However, the Edo State government in its reaction stated that the alleged arrest of Osemwingie-Ero had nothing to do with Governor Obaseki.

The Special Adviser to the governor on Media and Communications Strategy, Mr Crusoe Osagie, said the state government could not confirm the alleged arrest of the commissioner.

He said: “We learnt about the alleged arrest of the Arts, Culture, Tourism and Diaspora Commissioner, 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 hovernment or Governor Godwin Obaseki.”