Benue: PDP Tasks EFCC to Investigate, Prosecute Officials Accused of Corruption

*Govt refutes missing N20bn fraud allegation

George Okoh in Makurdi

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State, has called on the anti-graft commission and other sister agencies in the country like the EFCC, ICPC and DSS to ensure that officials of the Benue State government, who had been fingered in the alleged embezzlement of local government funds were brought to justice.
But the Benue State  Government has expressed  disbelief at reports in the media of allegations of the missing N20 billion in the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, in Benue State

However, the PDP, which made the call in a statement by its state Publicity Secretary, Chief Bemgba Iortyom, described as unacceptable, reports of mismanagement of taxpayers’ monies by the Governor Hyacinth Alia administration in which N20 billion out of N50 billion belonging to the 23 local government councils in the state had allegedly been deducted and paid illegally into private accounts.
“The constitution of two panels by Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, to probe the administration of his immediate predecessor, Chief Samuel Ortom, is evidently a ploy to shield from public scrutiny, the serial failures of his government.

“In what may be interpreted as a lack of confidence in the Benue Judicial family, Governor Alia selected two justices from outside the state to head the two panels which are vested with separate mandates to probe into the assets and finances of the state during the era of the Ortom administration from May 29, 2015 to May 28, 2023.

“Chief Ortom, who since the expiry of his two terms in office as governor has lived freely among the people in the state, has since expressed his readiness to submit himself before any lawful process as will require him to give account of his stewardship as governor.
“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, likewise, recognises the place of probity and accountability as necessary components of good governance, and will stand by its Leader, Chief Ortom, through this process of stock-taking, if that is actually what it will be.

“Nevertheless, the party raises questions as to the timing of the probe exercise, coming it at a time Governor Alia’s table is already full with issues of insecurity and allegations of monumental corruption taking place under his watch.
“The party also calls on the EFCC, ICPC, DSS and the Presidency to ensure that those officials of the Alia administration fingered in the alleged grand theft of local government funds in the state are brought to book.”

But the Special Adviser to the governor on the Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Denis Akura, dismissed the allegation in a statement.
Global Integrity Crusade Network (GICN), which claimed that its mandate was to checkmate corruption and avail recommendations to anti-corruption agencies and the public for investigation, had in a news report said the amount missing was a fraudulent move by the state government.
According to Akura, the group tried unsuccessfully to mislead the unsuspecting members of the public with bogus fallacious claims designed to discredit and distract the Alia administration.

In debunking GICN’s spurious allegations, he stated that, “For the records, His Excellency Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, a very disciplined leader whose standpoint is prudent management of resources, did not direct me to monitor the diversion of over ₦20 billion federal allocation aggregated to the local governments.