“Ortom operated 600 accounts, hid over 570 from Governor Alia” – Benue Government

The Benue State Government has accused the immediate past administration of ex-overnor Samuel Ortom of operating 600 accounts during his eight-year term in office.

Addressing the State Correspondents’ Chapel members of Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) during a visit to his office in Makurdi on Tuesday, Commissioner for Finance and Budget Planning, Michael Oglegba, said that was why Governor Hyacinth Alia froze all government accounts on assumption of office.

The finance commissioner said Governor Alia was shown only 25 accounts when he took over office but information at the Nigerian Inter Bank System, however, showed that the state had over 600 accounts.

“When we came in, we asked for the accounts and bank statements and we were presented with about 25 bank accounts. A causal look at the Nigerian Inter Bank System showed that Benue Government had more than 600 accounts,” the commissioner said.

Oglegba while commenting on the state debts profile, insisted that the Alia government inherited over N359 billion debts which included that of the local government arrears.

He said, “The debts owed by the state itself was in excess of N200bn. This includes local and foreign debts. However, the LGAs also have their own debts, unpaid salaries, pensions, gratuities and local contractors that made up the other N150 billion.

“So the Alia administration has no reason to lie about the state debts. We will be doing ourselves a great disservice if we say we own monies that we do not own. When we need loans for example who will give us?”

Ortom, who exited office in May this year, had denied leaving a debt of N359 billion.

The former governor, who spoke through his media aide, Terver Akase, had said the allegation was a mischief levelled against him and his eight years’ administration.

Also Read: Former Governor of Benue State, Ortom Lands in EFCC Custody

“The present government of Benue State is selling a narrative to unsuspecting people of the state that they inherited N359 billion as debt from the previous government led by Chief Ortom.

“This narrative is not only false but is also a deliberate stratagem to snooker the people. Governor Ortom was explicit in his handover speech that though the debt situation of the State Government at the time of his exit from office might appear to be on the high side (N187.56 billion).”