As controversy rages over the recent freezing of the accounts of the Osun State government by the EFCC, fear and apprehension have taken over Benue State. This follows widespread speculations over the fate of the accounts belonging to the state government under the administration of Governor Hyacinth Alia. The governor's financial dealings have come under public scrutiny since he assumed leadership of the State in 2023. Reports from the National Bureau of Statistics reveal that Benue State has received the highest allocation among states in the middle belt, amounting to more than one trillion Naira from the federation account alone within the last three years of the Alia administration. Michael Kaase Aondoakaa and Hon. Herman Iorwase Hembe, both candidates in the 2027 governorship elections in Benue State, have been most vocal in questioning the Alia administration's handling of this stupendous amount. Recently during the one year anniversary of the Yelwata killings, Aondoakaa, the PDP candidate had pointedly accused the governor of poor handling of state funds by withholding operational funds from security agencies which he said left the state vulnerable to attacks by external forces in spite of the funds that had accrued to government over the last three years. Hembe, candidate of the ADC similarly questions the Governor's handling of state finances. During the recent visit of Mrs. Remi Tinubu to Benue State, Hembe took to the social media and other channels to call her attention to what he described as the deception in the state under the Alia administration, pointing out that despite the billions that had accrued to the state from federal allocations and other sources, the First Lady should note the few projects scheduled for commissioning. He appealed to her to inquire deeper into the realities of the Benue society under Alia and not be carried away by artificial ceremonies which camouflage the poverty and underdevelopment of the state. The political camp belonging to Samuel Ortom, immediate past Governor of the State has also been consistent in accusing Alia of financial irregularities. Recently, the former Governor's media aide Terver Akase challenged Alia to account for N299b captured in budgets of the last three years for the health and primary education sectors. There has been no response from the administration as at the time of filing this report. The Governor's supporters on their part have been insistent that the governor prioritized payment of workers' salaries, pension obligations, infrastructure development, and agricultural interventions over what they claim was the former patronage of political godfathers. The controversy has led to widespread fears that the EFCC may freeze the accounts of the state government, with some arguing that the anti graft agency has no powers to freeze accounts of state governments. Renown legal practitioner Femi Falana, SAN, however differs. Commenting on the EFCC's recent freezing of accounts of the Osun State government, Falana, in a recent interview with Sahara Reporters, opined that the ommission did not act illegally. Falana insisted that the anti-graft agency has the legal power to freeze the funds of federal, state and local governments subject to judicial oversight. “Well, as far as the law is concerned, the EFCC has not acted illegally." According to him, the issue was previously settled in the case involving the Attorney-General of Benue State and the EFCC, adding, “Under the law, the EFCC has the power to freeze the account of the Federal Government or of any state or local government in Nigeria.” A publication by Legit.ng, lists states which accounts have been previously frozen to include Plateau (2006); Rivers (2008) and Adamawa (2014). Others are Benue and Akwa Ibom in 2018, Bauchi (2019), followed by Kogi (2021). Osun became eighth just recently.

Posted: 4days ago

Author: Editor in Chief

Current date: 14 August 2026