EFCC releases Ortom after hours of ‘intense’ quizzing

Samuel Ortom, former governor of Benue state, has been released from the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

An aide of the former governor told TheCable that he was released around 7:30pm on Tuesday night after several hours of “intense” interrogation at the zonal office of the EFCC in Makurdi, the state capital.

TheCable had reported how Ortom, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was grilled by officials of the anti-graft agency over alleged misappropriation of public funds during his tenure as governor.

Reacting to the quizzing, the PDP in Benue said while Ortom is not the first former governor to be grilled by EFCC, his case is “remarkably distinct for the lack of rancour and acrimony which usually attends such appearances”.

“The party is satisfied that ex-governor Ortom’s conduct is a clear reflection of his having no skeletons in his cupboard,” Benue PDP spokesperson said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the Benue state house of assembly has set up an ad hoc committee to investigate the income and expenditures of the 23 LGAs of the state.

The committee was constituted by Aondona Dajoh, speaker of the assembly, following a request by Hyacinth Alia, governor of the state.

“Following the receipt of the report of income and expenditures of the chairmen of the 23 local government councils themselves on June 14, 2023, I hereby forward the above report to you for investigation and necessary recommendations,” Alia’s letter to the house of assembly reads.