The former Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, is currently in the custody of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Makurdi, following an invitation.
Credible News reports that Ortom arrived at the Makurdi zonal office of the anti-graft agency, which is located at Alor Gordon Street, at 10 a.m. on Tuesday.
The former governor was invited to be questioned concerning an ongoing investigation into alleged financial misappropriation during his tenure as an official.
“Former governor Ortom is currently at our Makurdi zonal office in Benue State. He arrived at about 10 a.m. this morning, and he’s still there now. He was invited over an ongoing investigation concerning alleged misappropriation of funds during his time in office”, an impeccable source said.
Credible News reports that Ortom handed over a debt profile of N187.7 billion to the administration of Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia.
The ex-governor at a brief ceremony held at the old banquet hall of Government House in Makurdi, told Alia that the handover notes in three volumes were summary of his eight years administration.
The governor 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.