“Missing N2 Billion”, Benue Cement Shares, Others

MAKURDI – The last is yet to be heard of the showdown between the Benue state governor, Samuel Ortom and the Minister for Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, George Akume, as the former has threatened to petition the latter over the alleged disappearance of N2 billion at the twilight of the Akume administration.

The governor said he has set up a Committee to compile allegations of impropriety as well as noncompliance with due process among others, when Akume held sway in the state.

The governor who was speaking with the people of Jemgbagh over the weekend said that among some of the issues the petition would seek is for Akume to throw light on what happened to the proceeds for the sale of Benue Cement (now Dangote cement) shares when he was governor of the state.

The governor who also reacted to the claims by Akume that he has no projects to his credit, challenged Akume to point out what he did during his tenure, including some “failed” projects in his own Local Government Area, Tarka.

His words: “”Tell me one thing that he established (during his tenure) that is working; they are all failed projects.

“I have decided to write against him (Akume); I’m making a report and I’ll also generate a petition against him and he will come and explain. I’m going to expose him so, that if he likes he too can go to court.

“I’ve set up a Committee to put all those things together. One of the Commissions of Inquiry had earlier indicted him among other issues of awarding contracts without due process and issued a white paper, which I intend to dust up and bring forth.

“The issue of Benue cement shares, disappearance of N2 billion from the state coffers and all that; he is going to explain.”

Ortom pointed out that, “Now that he (Akume) is doing all these things, no one will say anything. But very soon traditional rulers will be coming to beg, but I’m not going to listen to them.

“For me I’m not prepared to join issues with him and why I went to court is to ask him to justify his allegations and to tell the whole world that what he was saying was not the truth and at the end we will know who was telling the truth.”, he stated

He however told the people of Jemgbagh that “I’m committed to you; we remain brothers and sisters.

“Even in terms of appointments, I’ve given you one Commissioner and two Advisers to show that you are not different from my LGA; my LGA doesn’t have a Commissioner.

The people of Jemgbagh were led on the occasion by Elder Sam Tsumba.