The asset recovery committee set up by the new Benue State governor Hyacinth Alia has raided an automobile shop allegedly belonging to his predecessor Samuel Ortom.
Alia had accused the former governor Ortom’s administration of looting, alleging that he “met no single car or truck in the government house”.
The committee was said to have seized some vehicles during the operation and used towing vans to pull out others, after attempts to drive them away failed.
Reacting, the spokesperson of the Benue state Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Bemgba Iortyom in a statement, described the committee’s outing as “a shameful show of naked tyranny and impunity”.
Iortyom said the raided shop is a private automobile workshop owned by Ortom’s business concern, Oracle Nigeria Limited.
“Staff of the workshop have confirmed to PDP that the vehicles, of a yet to be ascertained number, were those brought there for repairs by private owners and are not in any wise from any public source,” Iortyom said.
Meanwhile, in a separate statement condemning the raid, Ortom’s spokesperson, Terver Akase, contradicted Iortyom by saying the shop raided was a commercial workshop operated by London Lines Transport Limited.
“We are shocked beyond belief at the development which smacks of lawlessness,” Akase stated.
Reacting, Alia’s spokesperson, Tersoo Kula, said claims by the PDP and Akase that Ortom was being harassed and witch-hunted are false.
“Ortom was not and has never been the target, as his aide and the Publicity Secretary of his party would want the unsuspecting mass of Benue people to falsely believe, in a bid to curry undue public sympathy,” the statement reads.
“The discovery and recovery of numerous vehicles at a private building within the state capital by the committee is an indication that they have truly swung into action.”
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in June invited Ortom to their Makurdi zonal office.
Ortom was questioned over ongoing investigation into alleged financial misappropriation during his tenure.
“Former Governor, Samuel Ortom was invited over an ongoing investigation concerning alleged misappropriation of funds during his term in office,” an impeccable source said.
Ortom’s spokesperson said that the ex-governor was not arrested by the anti-graft agency.
“Contrary to insinuations in some sections of the media, the immediate past governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom visited the EFCC to honour invitation of the commission.
“Chief Ortom was neither arrested nor detained at the EFCC Zonal Headquarters in Makurdi.
“The former governor has repeatedly said he is available to respond to inquiries by anti-graft agencies, as he has nothing to hide regarding his stewardship in Benue State.”
