₦airaland Forum

…Vows to recover N107bn looted by Suswam

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.

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.”

Fmartin:
That's good for him.
Bt what's his political party

Progressive01:
Ask any idiot who doubts the story to look at the source and slap the back of their flat heads a hundred times to see that it is not "sahara reporters" but a well know pro Uganda paper- VANGUARD.

ABEOKUTA — Ogun State Deputy Governor, Chief Yetunde Onanuga, yesterday, escaped death in Ibafo in Obafemi-Owode when suspected Niger Delta militants engaged the security teams accompanying her to some borderline communities between Ogun and Lagos states, which were sacked by militants. The deputy governor accompanied by the service chiefs in the state had embarked on an inspection visit to Imushin, Elepete and Igbo-Olomu where some people were killed by suspected militants when the incident happened.

Onanuga was said to have been asked by Governor Ibikunle Amosun to visit the place to reassure residents of the commitment of the authorities towards providing adequate security for lives and property.

But the situation changed at Akoka Ebute area of Ibafo, in Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area when suspected militants opened fire on the security operatives that accompanied the deputy governor.

However, there was no casualty during the gun battle which lasted for about 20 minutes.

Scores of people last Friday lost their lives when the militants launched violent attacks on some communities in the state.

Worried by the militants attacks, traditional rulers from the affected communities went on a “save our souls” mission yesterday and held a meeting with the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Taiwo Adeoluwa, in Abeokuta.

After the meeting, a state delegation led by the deputy governor visited the affected communities.

As an advance security team was approaching the Ibafo creeks where the suspected militants were believed to be hiding, a barrage of gunfire ensued, forcing the law enforcement agents to take cover.

Vanguard gathered that the security operatives, comprising soldiers and policemen , responded swiftly and repelled the suspected militants, who later retreated deeper into the creeks and escaped in the process.

The state delegation later made a detour from the troubled area after the deputy governor had assured the residents of commitment to their safety.

Reacting to the gun battle, the SSG expressed concern over the deteriorating security situation in the affected communities and called for urgent Federal Government’s assistance.

He said the exchange of gunfire between the security operatives and the daredevil criminals in broad daylight was regrettable.

Adeoluwa said, “It is a thing of regret that things have gone so bad in our country; at this level, the teams led by the deputy governor of the state were not able to have access to a part of our state. It means that without mincing words, the Federal Government needs to get involved in this.

“This is something that is beyond the capacity of the police. We need military task force like the one we have in Niger Delta; It’s necessary and desirable. As we can see in Elepete, Igbo-Olomu and Imagbon, nothing can be compared with the violence here in Ibafo.”