Ortom Rejects Benue Probe Report Over Alleged N139.8bn Gap

Former Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has rejected the report of a state commission that alleged a N139.8 billion discrepancy in government finances between 2015 and 2023, describing it as a political witch-hunt.

Premium Times reported that the eight-member commission, chaired by retired Justice Jubril Idrisu, submitted the report to Governor Hyacinth Alia on Friday in Makurdi after a year-long investigation into the finances of the immediate past administration and the state’s 23 local government councils.

Idrisu said the state generated more than N826.5 billion during the period under review, while expenditure stood at about N683.4 billion, leaving an alleged unaccounted balance of N139.8 billion. He said the funds should be recovered from persons found responsible.

The commission also reported questionable loan transactions involving local governments and financial institutions, including cases where loan repayments allegedly exceeded the original amounts borrowed without adequate documentation.

Ortom’s media aide, Terver Akase, said in a statement on Saturday that the probe was not an exercise in accountability but a carefully scripted political witch-hunt designed to indict the former governor at all costs.

Ortom said whenever questions are asked about the over N1.3 trillion that has accrued to Benue under the present administration, Governor Alia and his appointees quickly blame him.

Sources: Premium Times