Edo Governor Monday Okpebholo has suspended his oil and gas adviser over unauthorized fundraising.
The planned summit was halted, and donors were told to stop dealing with the suspended official.
Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has suspended his Special Adviser on Oil and Gas, Felix Osemwengie Isere, over allegations of unauthorized fundraising for a forthcoming Oil and Gas Summit in the state.
The suspension was announced in an official statement released on Tuesday by the Secretary to the State Government, Umar Ikhilor.
According to the SSG, Isere was found to have solicited funds for the proposed summit without proper authorization from the state government. In response, the governor ordered the immediate suspension of the summit, which had been scheduled to commence on August 7, 2025.
“Due to the breach, the proposed summit is suspended, and Isere is directed to refund all monies collected from donors for the event,” Ikhilor stated.
He added that the governor had issued a strong warning to all prospective donors and stakeholders to cease any further dealings with the suspended official.
The incident marks a serious breach of protocol within the governor’s advisory team, with the administration signaling zero tolerance for actions taken outside due process. No details were provided on how much money had been collected or from which individuals or organizations.
The summit was intended to bring together key industry players and stakeholders to explore investment opportunities in Edo’s oil and gas sector. However, the controversy has cast a shadow over the event’s planning and execution.
Isere has not made any public statement regarding the allegations or the suspension order at the time of this report.
