MAKURDI, Nigeria – Samuel Ortom, the immediate past Governor of Benue State, has been taken into custody by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for questioning over his tenure as governor.
The former governor was seen entering the EFCC Makurdi zonal office, located at Alor Gordon Street in the state capital, at precisely 10:08 AM on Tuesday, June 20, 2023.
Accompanying him were Terver Akase, his former media aide, and Abraham Kwanhgu, his Principal Special Assistant on Special Duties. As of 11:25 AM when this report was filed, Ortom was still at the EFCC premises.
During his tenure, Ortom had handed over a debt profile of NGN 187.7 billion to his successor, Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia.
At a brief ceremony at the old banquet hall of Government House in Makurdi, Ortom provided a summary of his eight years in office, detailing the state’s total income of NGN 734.9 billion as of April 2023, and its total debt of NGN 187.7 billion.
The debt comprised unpaid salary, pension arrears, loans, bonds, and others.
Ortom also informed Alia of a debt swap/reduction agreement between the state and the Federal Government, totaling NGN 97.716 billion.
With an expected inflow of NGN 48 billion, after discount, the negotiated debt swap would be reduced to NGN 45.2 billion, thus lowering the state’s total debt profile.
Moreover, Ortom mentioned that his administration had already secured approval for a NGN 41 billion loan and a NGN 20 billion Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, facility.
He urged Alia’s administration to press for the release of these funds.
