By Abimbola Ogunnaike
Immediate past Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, has been freed from custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The former Governor granted the invitation of the commission around 10:00am on Tuesday, 20 June, 2023.
He drove into the Makurdi zonal office of the agency, which is located at Alor Gordon street in the state capital, accompanied by two of his former IDES.
The former Governor’s media aide, Terver Akase, and Principal Special Assistant on Special Duties, Abraham Kwanhgu, were sighted with him.
Detectives grilled Ortom on the financial expenditure of Benue under him as Governor.
Ortom handed over a debt profile of N187.7 billion to the administration of Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia.
At a brief ceremony held at the old banquet hall of Government House in Makurdi, Ortom 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 N734.9 billion 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.
Ortom explained that with an expected inflow of N48billion, after discount, the negotiated debt swap would be reduced to N45.2billion, thereby bringing down the state’s total debt profile.
He further disclosed that his administration already secured an approval of N41billion loan and a N20billion Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) facility, urging the Alia’s administration to press for the release of the money when sworn in.
Source: Daily Trust
