EFCC quizzes ex-Benue officials for alleged N107bn fraud

THE Benue State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Bashkir Makama, on Thursday said that nine persons out of the 52 indicted by the Justice Elizabeth Kpojime Commission of Inquiry had been arrested.

He said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in conjunction with the police arrested and detained them at the State Police Headquarters, Makurdi, before taking them to the Force Headquarters in Abuja for further investigation and subsequent prosecution.

Makama said, “It is part of the process to recover the alleged  N107 bn looted from the Benue State treasury by 52 individuals and 10 corporate organisations Massage School Dallas Texas in the last administration as reported to the anti-graft agency by Governor Samuel Ortom.’’

Those arrested were former Governor Gabriel Suswam’s Special Adviser, Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Prince Solomon Wombo, a former Permanent Secretary of the bureau, Mr. Asen Sambe, and the accountant, Mr. Isaiah Ipevnor.

Others were Janet Aluga, Moses Detso, Peter Ochoga, James Gera, Aorga Emmanuel and a former Legal Adviser of the Benue Investment and Sell Annuity Payment Property Company, Mr. John Tyokegh.

Wombo reported himself to the police at the Force Headquarters in Abuja and is currently being detained there.

One of the operatives, who spoke on condition of anonymity to our correspondent, said one of those indicted by the Kpojime Commission, Mr. Richard Gbande, escaped when the police went to arrest him but his two cars were impounded.

He revealed that a large amount of money and ammunition were recovered from the houses of some of those arrested.

Reacting to the development, the State Attorney Donate Cars Illinois General and Commissioner for Justice, Michael Gusa,  who also confirmed the arrests, stated that the Ortom administration would do everything legally possible to recover the looted funds.

Gusa said, “I want to assure the people of the state that after the recovery of the money, it would be channelled towards the development of the state as well as the clearing of all salaries and other entitlements owed workers and pensioners.”