Omobayo was sworn in on April 8, 2024 after his nomination by then-Governor Godwin Obaseki following the impeachment of his former deputy, Philip Shaibu.

However, Shaibu’s later reinstatement rendered Omobayo’s tenure illegitimate, though he served out the administration’s remaining term with Obaseki.

Nearly a year after the end of that administration, the current government led by Governor Monday Okpebholo said some state-owned property and assets assigned to Omobayo have yet to be returned.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Fred Itua, said all official items acquired or used by Omobayo during his time in office remain the property of Edo State and must be surrendered immediately.

“The government has observed with dismay that several official items, including vehicles, documents, and other state-owned assets assigned to Mr. Omobayo during his brief and illegitimate tenure, are yet to be surrendered despite multiple formal reminders,” the statement read.

Itua said the government viewed the continued retention of such items as “a clear breach of public trust and unlawful possession of state assets,” warning that failure to comply within seven days would prompt enforcement action.

“Accordingly, Mr. Omobayo is hereby given seven days from the date of this release to comply fully by returning all government property under his custody to the Office of the Secretary to the State Government,” he said.

The statement added that failure to comply would compel the state to direct the Commissioner of Police to arrest Omobayo and recover the assets through lawful means.

Itua stressed that the Okpebholo administration remains committed to accountability, due process, and the protection of public property.

“No individual, regardless of former position or political affiliation, will be permitted to unlawfully appropriate or retain assets belonging to the people of Edo State,” he said, urging Omobayo to “respect this directive and avoid actions that could attract consequences or further embarrassment.”

However, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party in Edo State lashed out at the state government, while refuting claims that Obaseki is on the run.

Former Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, said Obaseki’s presence in the state would make the current administration “very uncomfortable,” insisting that the former governor would honour any invitation from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission or any investigative agency.

“Obaseki is not on the run. He is currently on a fellowship at a university in the United Kingdom. In any case, his presence in Edo would make the present governor very uncomfortable,” Nehikhare said.

He added that the Okpebholo’s administration had shown “an obsession” with discrediting its predecessor instead of focusing on governance.

“It is laughable to accuse Obaseki of non-performance. He constructed over 1,300 kilometres of roads and built institutions across the state. The problem they have is what we call the ‘Obaseki Derailment Syndrome’ — the APC government keeps looking back instead of building on the progress already made,” he said.

PDP Publicity Secretary, Dan Osa-Ogbegie, also criticised the current administration, describing its flagship flyover project as lacking “economic value” and accusing it of running “a government of propaganda and incompetence.”

“The Okpebholo-led government lacks direction. Governance has stalled, and reforms introduced under Obaseki — including land administration, civil service reforms, and urban renewal — have been reversed,” he said.

Obaseki, who governed Edo State from 2016 to 2024, was first elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress before defecting to the PDP in 2020.

Since leaving office in November 2024, he has been outside the country, prompting claims from the APC that he is evading investigations.

The PDP, however, maintains that such claims are baseless and urged the Okpebholo administration to “focus on governance rather than chasing shadows.”