…Vows to recover N107bn looted by Suswam
By Levinus Nwabughiogu
By Levinus Nwabughiogu
ABUJA—Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State,
yesterday commended operatives of the Economic
and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for
investigating the Speaker and other members of the
state House of Assembly for allegedly
misappropriating N750 million meant for purchase
of official cars.
yesterday commended operatives of the Economic
and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for
investigating the Speaker and other members of the
state House of Assembly for allegedly
misappropriating N750 million meant for purchase
of official cars.
The governor said his government would not
condone any act of criminality or defend anyone
who had a hand in fraud.
Recall that the Speaker of Benue State House of
Assembly, Terkinbi Ikange; his deputy, James Ikefe;
the Majority Leader, Benjamin Adanyi; Deputy
Majority Leader, Nick Eworo; the Minority Leader,
Sule Audu and 10 other members were arrested and
detained on Monday in Abuja by the EFCC.
It was gathered that though they were let off the
hook via bail on Wednesday evening after spending
three days in detention, another seven members had
been summoned by Commission to appear for
questioning today (Friday).
Answering questions from State House
Correspondents after a meeting with President
Muhammadu Buhari at the presidential Villa, Abuja,
Governor Ortom said in a matter of corruption, no
one would be spared.
Ortom also vowed to recover N107 billion looted
from the state treasury by the government of
Governor Gabriel Suswam.
He said: “Yes it is a good thing, it is part of the
process. They are under investigation by the EFCC.
From day one I brought up a slogan that ‘if you
chop money, money will chop you.
“We have to be careful and I have sent signals to
all that nobody is above the law. If you do wrong,
you will go your own way. As far as I’m concerned,
they are under investigation. Let’s see the outcome
we would have. As far as I’m concerned, my
government will not shield anybody who is corrupt
and who is found wanting. From myself as governor
and every other lieutenant, we are opened to
scrutiny.”
The governor however regretted that some people
were peddling rumours of cash transfers against his
government.
“There is freedom of information bill and people are
allowed to get information from these sources. The
only thing is that there is no point telling lies and
peddling falsehood against leaders. Like I heard
somebody said we transferred 2.4 billion dollars to
an account. Which account, where is the money?
Money that I don’t have to do local government
election, or to pay salaries. If I have it wont I pay
them? So it is allowed.
“EFCC is an agency that is charged to investigate
and where somebody is found culpable you
prosecute. So they are free to do their job in Benue
State. I have given them free hand: ICPC, EFCC, and
even for me I am doing independent prosecution of
those who are corrupt,” he said.
He stated that already, some indicted persons had
agreed to return N355 million to the state
government.
He said: “The justice Kpojume commission came
out with a report that N107 billion should be
retrieved from 52 persons including the former
governor and I am leaving no stones unturned to
ensure that we recover this money because we need
it for the development of Benue state.
“Already someone who was indicted has already
offered to refund N355 million which we gave the
approval in council on Wednesday. With that we are
not interested in prosecution. The exco exonerated
him, once he pays in the money, he has his clean
bill.”
