N750m fraud: Benue Governor hails arrest of State House of Assembly Speaker, others
Fri Jul 01, 2016 07:29:am National
2.3K By Buchi Obichie
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has been lauded by the Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, for arresting and investigating the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mr. Terkimbir Ikyange, and three principal officers of the Assembly.
Ortom made known his approval of the anti-graft agency's action, while speaking with State House correspondents shortly after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Thursday.
Following allegations of misappropriation of N750m meant for the purchase of cars for members of the Benue State House of Assembly, the Speaker and 3 other principal officers of the assembly were invited to appear before the EFCC in Abuja on Tuesday.
Others invited by the commission included the Deputy Speaker, James Okefe, and the Majority Leader, Benjamin Adanyi.
While commending the agency,Ortom said his Government would never shield anybody found to be corrupt or wanting.
The Governor said, "Yes, it (the arrest of the lawmakers) 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 it wrong, you will go your own way. As far as I am concerned, they are under investigation. Let us see the outcome we would have.
"As far as I am concerned, my government will not shied anybody who is corrupt and who is found wanting. Myself as the governor and every other lieutenant are open to scrutiny; there is Freedom of Information Bill and people are allowed to get information from these sources."
The Governor, however, warned against peddling of false information against Government officials.
He cited an example of a recent allegation of illegal transfer of $2.4bn levelled against his Government, saying there was no substance in the claim.
"The only thing is that there is no point telling lies and peddling falsehood against leaders. Like I heard somebody said, we transferred $2.4bn into 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, won't I pay them?
"So, it is allowed. The EFCC is an agency that is charged with investigation 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.
The Governor said he would leave no stone unturned in his mission to recover stolen state funds; but added that anyone who returned stolen funds will be pardoned.
According to him, a commission established by his administration came up with a report that N107bn should be retrieved from 52 persons, including the former Governor of the State, Gabriel Suswam.
Ortom disclosed that an unnamed person who was indicted had already offered to refund N355m.
Ortom made known his approval of the anti-graft agency's action, while speaking with State House correspondents shortly after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Thursday.
Following allegations of misappropriation of N750m meant for the purchase of cars for members of the Benue State House of Assembly, the Speaker and 3 other principal officers of the assembly were invited to appear before the EFCC in Abuja on Tuesday.
Others invited by the commission included the Deputy Speaker, James Okefe, and the Majority Leader, Benjamin Adanyi.
While commending the agency,Ortom said his Government would never shield anybody found to be corrupt or wanting.
The Governor said, "Yes, it (the arrest of the lawmakers) 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 it wrong, you will go your own way. As far as I am concerned, they are under investigation. Let us see the outcome we would have.
"As far as I am concerned, my government will not shied anybody who is corrupt and who is found wanting. Myself as the governor and every other lieutenant are open to scrutiny; there is Freedom of Information Bill and people are allowed to get information from these sources."
The Governor, however, warned against peddling of false information against Government officials.
He cited an example of a recent allegation of illegal transfer of $2.4bn levelled against his Government, saying there was no substance in the claim.
"The only thing is that there is no point telling lies and peddling falsehood against leaders. Like I heard somebody said, we transferred $2.4bn into 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, won't I pay them?
"So, it is allowed. The EFCC is an agency that is charged with investigation 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.
The Governor said he would leave no stone unturned in his mission to recover stolen state funds; but added that anyone who returned stolen funds will be pardoned.
According to him, a commission established by his administration came up with a report that N107bn should be retrieved from 52 persons, including the former Governor of the State, Gabriel Suswam.
Ortom disclosed that an unnamed person who was indicted had already offered to refund N355m.
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