TVC E. Samuel Ortom, the Benue state governor, has denied reports that he’s currently under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Media reports had it that Mr Ortom was being investigated for using proxies to ferry N4.29 billion from the state treasury out of three banks to unknown beneficiaries believed to be close to him. The governor denied ever transferring such huge amount from the financial system blaming the report on those he claimed had looted the state to the tune of N107 billion before he took over.
In the statement by his Special Adviser on Media and ICT, Tahav Agerzua, the governor also said that none of his aides had been invited by EFCC for questioning over the alleged offence, which he said was spurious. Agerzua pointed out that even the lawmaker whose account was allegedly used by the governor to launder the money, had also denied being the courier.
The governor however admitted that the sum of N929 million was judiciously used for security issues and properly accounted for and not misused as reported by the petitioners to EFCC. “Checks at the Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs where an alleged N929,903,967.00 was stolen by two persons revealed the following: “Mr Festus Andoor is the cashier of the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs who has the mandate to make withdrawals from the Joint Allocation Account Committee’s Bank account as approved by the 23 local government chairmen at JAAC meetings.
“These approvals include disbursement of funds to tackle security challenges especially herdsmen’s attacks in the 23 local government areas in recent times as well as other emergencies such as the burial of the late Tor Tiv Orchivirigh Dr Alfred Akawe Torkula,” the statement said.
