Ex-Governor Ortom Lands In EFCC Custody

The immediate past governor of Benue state, North Central Nigeria, Samuel Ortom, on Tuesday arrived at the office of anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) located in the state capital, Makurdi.

He ruled the state from 2015-2023 but failed in his bid to secure a Senatorial seat in the 2023 general elections.

The former governor who drove in his private SUV vehicle arrived quietly, the EFCC office located along Gordon Aluor street, old GRA, Makurdi, around 10:08am

He was later joined by his two former aides including Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Terver Akase and his Principal Special Assistant, Abraham Kwaghgu.

Officials of the agency were interrogating the former chief executive as at the moment of this report.

He was accused of leaving a debt profile which stood at N187.7 billion to his successor, Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia who took over governance May 29.

He explained that the total income of the state during his eight years 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.