Go Clear Your Name, Ortom Tells Suswam

Akpan Jeremiah 1 hour ago5212

The immediate past governor of Benue state, Gabriel Suswam has been advised by his successor, Governor Samuel Ortom, to clear his name of allegations of massive looting of government funds during his eight-year tenure.

Governor Samuel Ortom

The governor made this statement in reaction to speculation by Suswam that the present administration in the state is behind his trial. Ortom noted that Suswam should stop blaming anyone for his travails but acquit himself of any wrong doing.

Ortom said: “Our candid advice is that Dr. Suswam should prepare to avail himself of the opportunity offered by the Justice Elizabeth Kpojime Judicial Commission of Inquiry to defend his administration on issues raised rather than playing to the gallery. His appearance before the commission would surely make headlines and publicise his side of the story.

“The people of the state want to know what happened to their shares in BCC, Julius Berger, numerous CBN and other banks loans, Sure-P funds as well as other issues raised in his stewardship.

“We don’t think the resort to the media and the courts which the former governor had earlier despised by ignoring their orders can make atonement.

“Let it be known that the Ortom administration has no hand in former Governor Suswam’s current ordeal with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC),” the governor said in a statement in Abuja issued by his adviser on media, publicity and ICT, Tahav Agerzu.

He added: “As an independent anti-graft agency with presence in all states of the federation, the EFCC does not need the prompting of anyone to go after glaring cases of looting of public funds as was the case under former governor Suswam.

“It must be made abundantly clear that contrary to the claims by Dr Suswam, the Ortom administration has no hand in the petition which led to his arrest and interrogation by EFCC.

“This administration believes in due process and the rule of law, hence, it constituted a Judicial Commission to avail all concerned, the opportunity to state their side of the story.”

Meanwhile, a federal high court sitting in Makurdi had ordered a stay of proceedings by Benue state government to probe Suswam’stenure pending the determination of the substantive motion.

This order was handed down by Justice Iorhemen Hwande after the consideration of relevant documents.