Ortom dismisses Benue government's investigation findings, calls probe a 'politically motivated attack

Former Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has dismissed the report of the Benue State Income and Expenditure Commission of Inquiry as baseless, particularly the alleged unaccounted N139.8bn, labeling the entire exercise a politically motivated witch-hunt orchestrated by Governor Hyacinth Alia's administration.

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Ortom's media aide, Zege Terhide, issued a statement on Saturday, describing the commission's report as fundamentally flawed, legally challenged, and politically motivated, asserting that the people of Benue witnessed a carefully scripted political witch-hunt designed to indict Ortom's government at all costs.

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The former governor's reaction came a day after the eight-member panel, chaired by retired Justice Jubril Idrisu, submitted its report to the Benue state government in Makurdi, after being inaugurated by Governor Alia in June 2025 to investigate the income and expenditure of the immediate past administration and 23 local government councils between May 29, 2015, and May 28, 2023.

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According to Justice Idrisu, the commission reviewed financial records, conducted public hearings involving former government officials and institutions, and found that the state generated over N826.5billion during the period under review, with expenditure standing at about N683.4billion, leaving an unaccounted balance of approximately N139.8 billion.

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Deputy Governor Sam Ode, who received the report on behalf of Governor Alia, expressed the administration's commitment to transparency, accountability, and institutional reforms, and confidence that implementing the commission's recommendations would strengthen institutions, discourage the mismanagement of public funds, and ensure accountability.

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Ortom, however, maintained that the legitimacy of the probe remains the subject of ongoing litigation, citing earlier panels established by the Alia administration to investigate his government, which were challenged in court and subsequently dissolved before a new commission was constituted.

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A pending appeal challenging the legality of the inquiry is scheduled for a hearing at the Court of Appeal on June 29, 2026, and the Benue state government has also approached the Supreme Court to challenge an earlier Appeal Court ruling that nullified the constitution of previous probe panels.

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Ortom accused the Alia administration of using the probe to divert attention from governance challenges, including insecurity, the plight of Internally Displaced Persons, industrial disputes in the education sector, and questions surrounding the management of state finances, all while blaming him for their own shortcomings.

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The former governor noted that whenever questions are asked about the over N1.3 trillion that has accrued to Benue state under the present administration, Governor Alia and his appointees quickly blame him, and that this trend continues with other issues, such as insecurity and public dissatisfaction.

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Ortom insisted that all financial activities under his administration were conducted in accordance with the law and established government procedures, with government accounts subjected to annual statutory audits, budgets regularly presented and approved, and financial records maintained by relevant institutions.

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The former governor stated that he has nothing to hide and remains proud of his record in office, committed to the rule of law, and emphasized that Governor Alia has become more interested in prosecuting media battles against him than in addressing the serious challenges confronting Benue state.