By Yemi Yusuf
The immediate past Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, is currently in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Our correspondent gathered that the ex-Governor was invited by the anti-graft body for questioning over his stewardship.
Ortom, however, drove into the Makurdi zonal office of the agency, which is located at Alor Gordon street in the state capital at exactly 10:08am.
The former governor’s media aide, Terver Akase, and Principal Special Assistant on Special Duties, Abraham Kwanhgu, were seen with him.
He had not left the premises as at 11:25am when this report was filed.
Ortom handed over a debt profile of N187.7 billion to the administration of Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia.
Ortom at a brief ceremony held at the old banquet hall of Government House in Makurdi, told Alia that the handover notes in three volumes were a summary of his eight year administration.
The governor explained that the total income of the state during his eight year sojourn amounted to N734.9billion as at April 2023 while the total debt incurred by the state within the period stood at N187.7billion inclusive of unpaid salary, pension arrears, loans and bonds among others.
He also intimated his successor of a debt swap/reduction arrangement between the state and the Federal Government to the tune of N97.716billion.
Ortom explained that with an expected inflow of N48billion, after discount, the negotiated debt swap would be reduced to N45.2billion, thereby bringing down the state’s total debt profile.
He had also disclosed that his administration already secured an approval of N41billion loan and a N20billion Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) facility, and urged the Alia administration to press for the release of the money when sworn in.
