The Oromia Anti-Corruption Commission has arrested 75 officials suspected of corruption, according to commissioner Abebe Kebede. He said investigators worked through nine branches of the commission across the region.
Those named in early reports included Teshome Legesse, director general of Oromia Microfinance, together with management committee members Teshome Kebede and Meskerem Dabba. In Shashemene, former mayor Feyissa Regassa, former deputy mayor Abdo Gebeyehu, and city manager Gemeda Bedasso were among those held. Jimma zone’s Mancho wereda administrator Fanta Bekele was also listed.
Other detainees named by the commission’s account included Mohammed Kassim, Endalkachew Belachew, and Yilma Deressa of the Oromia procurement agency, the director general of the Oromia Roads Authority, and Mengistu Regassa, then head of Bole Lemi Industry Park and a former deputy in Oromia urban development and housing.
New Business Ethiopia linked the regional drive to wider reform steps after Abiy Ahmed took office, including dismissals of thousands of officials in Oromia and federal prosecutions of other graft suspects and business associates.
Sources: New Business Ethiopia