Immediate past governor of Benue State Samuel Ortom has reiterated his challenge to Governor Hyacinth Alia to take him to court if he was confident of allegations of financial impropriety which the incumbent governor has consistently made against him. The Mandate recalls that Alia has severally accused the Ortom administration of financial mismanagement, and through his CPS Tersoo Kula, alleged that Ortom had left 7 months of unpaid salaries for state workers; 11 months of salary arrears owed to local government workers and teachers; more than 76 months of unpaid pensions and gratuities in eight years; and a heavy debt burden shrouded in questionable circumstances. The former governor repeated his challenge Tuesday June 22 during an interface with journalists in Makurdi, reiterating that his eight year administration had been anchored on transparency and accountability. Ortom said that all government accounts were audited annually and reports published in national newspapers and further pointed out that the overall audit report covering his administration was gazetted following its approval by the Benue State House of Assembly, as stipulated by law. Chief Ortom maintained that all financial records from his time in office are intact and available for verification by relevant authorities. “Let us meet for a debate where both sides can lay out their records for the people to judge,” Ortom dared Alia. Addressing the specific allegation of ₦139.8 billion misappropriation, Chief Ortom accused the Alia administration of relying on imaginary records and attempting to witch-hunt him without proof and submitted that such claims lack substance and are simply aimed at damaging his reputation. He called on Alia to rememember his campaign promises to the people of Benue State to clear salary arrears, pay pensions and gratuities, and return Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to their ancestral homes.

Posted: 2months ago

Author: Chief Editor

Current date: 14 August 2026