- Ortom: I’m Ready to Face Panel
- Alia: Ortom Has Case to Answer
By Abiola Olawale
The immediate past Governor of Benue State, Chief Samuel Ortom, and his successor, Governor Hyacinth Alia are currently stacked in a war of words of allegations and counter allegations of corruption.
While responding to an earlier probe panel set up by Governor Alia, Ortom expressed his readiness to appear before the investigative panel.
This is as the former governor applauded the decision of Alia to probe the activities of his administration between 2015 and 2023.
The New Diplomat reports that the Benue State Governor on Tuesday set up two judicial commissions of inquiry to probe the administration of former governor, Samuel Ortom.
The commissions are the Benue Income and Expenditure Commission of Inquiry 2024 and the Sale/Lease of Government Assets, Companies, and Markets (both State and LG Markets) Moribund Companies Commission of Inquiry 2024.
The commissions would investigate the eight-year tenure of Ortom from May 29, 2015, to May 28, 2023, and have six months to submit their reports.
During the inauguration, Alia said the judicial commissions were constituted in line with the Commission of Inquiry Law (Cap 40) Laws of Benue State, 2004.
Reacting to the development, Ortom in a statement issued by his media aide, Terver Akase, on Tuesday, said he is willing to cooperate with the probe panels as long as the investigation is carried out in line with the law.
He stated that his administration was built on transparency, accountability, and good governance.
The statement reads in part, “He emphasizes his readiness to provide any information or clarification, as may be required. Chief Ortom urges his former appointees to equally make themselves available whenever called upon to provide clarifications.
“I am capable of responding to the issues being raised against me and other officials of my government and I have always made known my belief in the rule of law.
“I am ready to make myself available to respond to issues bordering on my administration whenever the need arises.”
