Former Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has rejected the findings of a state probe panel that indicted his administration over the alleged mismanagement of more than N139.8 billion, describing the report as a politically motivated witch-hunt.
In a statement issued by his media aide, Paul Zege, Ortom accused the administration of Governor Hyacinth Alia of using the panel to divert public attention from what he described as three years of poor governance in the state. He argued that the probe was designed to achieve a predetermined outcome rather than establish accountability.
Ortom maintained that genuine justice could not emerge from a process whose conclusions had allegedly been decided before investigations commenced. According to him, the panel’s findings amounted to a media trial aimed at tarnishing his reputation.
The probe panel, headed by retired Justice Kubrick Idrisu, submitted its report to the Benue State Government over the weekend. It recommended the recovery of about N139.8 billion from individuals and organisations found culpable.
The panel reviewed financial activities during Ortom’s tenure from May 2015 to May 2023 and reported that the state generated over N826.5 billion in revenue within the period, while expenditure stood at approximately N683.4 billion. It also flagged questionable loan transactions involving local government councils, noting cases where repayments exceeded the original loan values without adequate documentation.
Investigators further uncovered transfers of public funds to financial institutions without sufficient records and expressed concern over weak financial controls in government agencies. The panel recommended stronger oversight mechanisms, including tighter authorisation procedures for electronic payments, improved internal audit systems and an end to the use of blank pre-signed mandates.
Receiving the report on behalf of Governor Alia, Deputy Governor Sam Ode described the exercise as part of the administration’s commitment to transparency, accountability and fiscal discipline. He assured residents that the recommendations would be carefully reviewed and implemented where necessary, adding that the government remained focused on reforming institutions and rebuilding public confidence in governance.
