Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo has named Kasimu Otono as his new Special Adviser on Oil and Gas.
Otono succeeds Felix Isere, who was suspended on Tuesday for raising funds without authorisation in the name of the Edo State Government in preparation for a projected Oil and Gas Summit in Benin City on 7 August.
The appointment was announced Friday in a statement signed by Umar Ikhilor, Secretary to the State Government.
The statement read, “It is hereby announced for the information of the general public that the Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has approved the appointment of Barr. Kasimu Otone as Special Adviser (Oil and Gas) to the Governor.
“Barr. Kasimu Otono, who replaces the suspended immediate-past Special Adviser, Mr. Felix Isere, is a legal practitioner, real estate entrepreneur, philanthropist, and community mobiliser.”
According to the statement, Otono is a member of both the Nigerian Bar Association and the International Bar Association, and he presently works as a senior partner at Kay & Kay Legal, a business that specialises in commercial, real estate, and oil and gas law.
Okpebholo had already asked Isere to reimburse any payments collected from contributors and advised the public against doing business with him.