Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has relieved the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Samson Osagie, of his duties, replacing him with Prof. Roland Otaru (SAN). The announcement came shortly after the swearing-in of 19 new commissioners on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, as part of a wider cabinet reshuffle.

Osagie’s removal comes months after he was earlier suspended on February 5, 2025, over alleged financial and official misconduct, but later reinstated on March 12, 2025, following his exoneration by a government panel. Despite this reinstatement, his name was absent from the latest list of commissioners, signaling his formal replacement.

Governor Okpebholo also announced a minor cabinet reshuffle, appointing Prince Kassim Afegbua as the new Commissioner for Information and Strategy, replacing Paul Ohonbamu, who has been redeployed to the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs. The ministry’s name was also changed from “Information and Communication” to “Information and Strategy” to reflect a new focus.

Other affected officials include Dr. Lucky Eseigbe, who moves from Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to Physical Planning and Urban Development. Barr. Bisi Idaomi has been reassigned from Women Affairs to Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, while Eugenia Abdallah will now oversee Women Affairs. Meanwhile, Osi Akhigbe has yet to be assigned a ministry, and Hon. Chris Okaeben’s screening and confirmation by the State Assembly remain pending.

Governor Okpebholo noted that his decision to expand Edo State ministries from 24 to 28 was part of a broader effort to align the state’s governance structure with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He explained that the restructuring would strengthen service delivery, enhance accountability, and support the implementation of his SHINE Agenda for development.