The state government petitioned anti-graft agencies in the country to investigate the former lawmaker over alleged financial impropriety amounting to about N4,556,899,632.9 billion naira when he served as Governor of the state.
According
to report, youths in Benue State, under the umbrella of Benue Youths Forum,
BYF, have issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission, EFCC, and other anti graft agencies in the country to begin the
prosecution of the Minister of Special Duties and Inter-governmental Affairs,
Senator George Akume over alleged N4.5 billion loot.
According
to the petition, the alleged financial fraud which ranges from misappropriation
of public funds, abuse of office, approvals above limit also include sale of
33,440,818 units of shares at the Benue Investment and Property Company, BIPC,
also valued at billions of naira without recourse to due process.
The state
government claimed that the alleged financial crime was generated from an audit
report spanning 1999 – 2007 during the tenure of Akume as the state governor.
Following
the allegation, Benue Youths, during a press conference on Wednesday, lauded
Governor Samuel Ortom on his courageous move to unearth the alleged financial
crime.
President
of the group, Terrence Kuanum, who addressed the press, urged the state
governor not to rely on anti graft agencies alone but involve legal actions by
seeking redress in court.
He said,
“We received with relief, the news that the Benue State Government, after a
thorough audit, has taken steps to seek justice by inviting the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate the looted funds of the State
Government during Senator George Akume’a tenure as Governor.
“We salute
the courage of Governor Samuel Ortom for standing with the people of Benue once
again to recover what rightfully belongs to them, especially at this time of
dwindling funds from the federation account.
“In 1999
when Akume became Governor, the Naira was exchanging with the Dollar at N21.89
only. Imagine the value of N4.5 billion at that time and what impact such a
large amount of money would have had on the Benue economy now, if it had not
been diverted by the Akume administration.
“State
funds are public funds that belong to all of us and any one who presides over
our public funds should be willing to be accountable for his actions.
“We are
all aware of the damage corruption has done to the economy of Nigeria. When
criminal acts such as the one the Akume administration is being accused of are
allowed to go unpunished, the society suffers the dire consequences.
“When
Akume was willfully accusing Governor Ortom the other day, he thought that we
had forgotten all about the financial atrocities he committed during his time.
Now is that time of reckoning we warned him about. He who comes to the table of
equity must come with clean hands.
“We advise
the Benue State Government to take the matter further to the courts and not
limit it to EFCC investigation. This is a very serious corporate malfeasance
against Benue State which must be redressed.
“We also
want to warn that we not going to accept anything short of justice on this
matter. We won’t also accept plea bargain or a political solution of any kind.
“Akume has
insulted Benue people for too long. Let him have his day in court to prove his
innocence.
“We urge
the EFCC to immediately swing into action and get to the root of the matter so
that justice will be done to the people of Benue State, bearing in mind that no
one is above the law.
“Benue
Youth Forum assures the people of the State that it will stop at nothing to
ensure that we get justice in this case on behalf of our people so that the
looted funds will be brought back into our treasury to enhance the development
of the state.
“Consequently,
we hereby give EFCC a 14-day ultimatum with effect from Tuesday November 30,
2021, to invite Senator George Akume for questioning and thereafter commence
his prosecution;
otherwise,
we youths of Benue State will occupy the Commission’s premises and demand for
justice.
“We
support Governor Samuel Ortom and his administration and will support any just
cause his administration initiates to enhance the development of our state.
“Benue is
the only state we have as our heritage. We will therefore not allow saboteurs
to get away with their acts of treachery, corruption and impunity”.
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