Unveiled! How Suswam Looted Benue

A peep into how the finances of Benue State were looted by officials in the administration of Gabriel Suswam, the immediate past governor of the state have begun to emerge with mind boggling revelations on government expenditures.
These revelations were contained in a two-volume report submitted to Governor Samuel Ortom Wednesday at the old Banquet Hall in the Peoples Government House, Makurdi by the 16-member Transistion Committee, led by its Chairman Transition Mr Mike Iordye.

In his seven page speech, the Transition Committee Chairman disclosed that "during the tenure of the immediate past administration in the state, there was very high level of impunity in the business of governance. There appeared to be a calculated atmosphere of confusion, as governmnet institutions like that Civil Service Commission that would have ordinarily provided the needed direction, championed the course of impunity in the state."
The committee also announced that investigations showed that the former administration left a debt burden of over N130billion.
A preliminary report had indicated that the state owed 90bilion.
Consequently, the Committee observed that throughout the eight year tenure of the last PDP administration in the state led by Suswam, "rules, regulations and procedures governing the conduct of government business were brazenly set aside. This facilitated the subsequent massive corruption, fraud and naked theft of government funds which took pla in the state."
For example, Iordye further stated that "contracts were heavily inflated" with many of them "abandoned across the MDA's, especially at the Ministry of Works and Transport, Ministry of Housing, Ministry of Environment and Urban Development, Ministry of Lands and Survey, Government House, and the ministry of Water Resources and it's parastatal, BERWASA. This happened after the contractors had collected huge sums of money."
Apart from the huge debt profile the Suswam administration left behind, there were questionable expenditures carried out by officials of the state in the past administration.
One of such blatant disregard to prudence in the expenditure of the state finances is how a whopping sum of over N6.507billion meant for SURE-P, a federal government initiative in the state with a total receipt of N7.743billion disappeared and was not accounted for leaving a paltry total expenditure at N1.236billion from May, 2012 to December,2014.
The committe also found out that in 2014, a stockbroking firm known as M/S Elizir Securities were mandated by the former Benue state Governor Suswam through the former State Commissioner of finance, Hon. Omadachi Oklobia to "sell down N10 billion worth of stock" belonging to the state governmnet. After the sales, the "sum of N8,368,699,932.30 was subsequently realised".
However, out of this amount, the "committee found out that a sum of N5.3 billion was paid into a Zenith Bank Account No. 1013852648 which was found to be an expenditure account of the ministry of finance. The other Zenith Bank account No. 1013677218 where the sum of N2,068,699,932.30 was paid into was found not to belong to Ministry of Finance or any agency of the Benue state government."
Unfortunately, the transition committee told the governor that "all efforts by the committee to trace the identity or owner of the account failed as neither BIPC nor Elixir securities were willing to co-operate."
Another questionable financial transactions discovered against the administration of Suswam was how the "sum of N4,364,653,985,00 was said to have been transfered to government treasury from the expenditure account of the ministry of finance, while the sum of N355,931,979.00 was transferred back to BIPC and the balance of N534,700,000.00 was withdrawn and paid in cash on curious expenditure heads within just four months.
A close look at the books of the state showed that on October 17, 2014, the sum of N60Million was alleged to have been spent on a what the officials termed "Military Retreat," while the sums of N500million, N45million and N128million was withdrawn on 14th and 20th November, 2014 as well as January 12, 2015 under a "Government House expenditure" account purported to be augmentation of the accounts of the seat of government.
On January 13th and 14th, 2015, officials in the Benue state Government House under Suswam again withdrew cash in two tranches to the tune of N100million and N17million while another phoney cash withdrawal under what they called "UBA Capital" to the tune of N29.7million was made.
On the debt profile of the state, the Committee discovered that as at the time the administration of Ortom took over, arrears of pensions and gratuties stood at over N16.7billion, arrears of salaries were over N9.5billion while contractual obligations was N72.03billion. Commercial bank loans stood at N11.129billion, CBN loans N585million, State Revenue Bond N9.694billion, Foreign Loans N9.818billion with judgement debt standing at N1.236billion totalling over N130billion.
The committee revealed that inspite of glaring financial recklessness disvovered, it had not taken a look at the local government debts "except arrears of pension and gratuity which was presented by the local government pension Board to be N10,065,633,415.26."
Iordye who was at one time Head of Service in the Suswam administration explained that in the course of its work, "the committee found with utmost dismay that there were many industries in the state and other commercial investments and a large number of them were on lease for long periods of time at ridiculously low prices."
As one of ways for the committee to get to the root of some false declarations in the handover notes, the Committee on Friday 3rd July, 2015 undertook the inspection tour of Oju local government are to "confirm the existence" of 751 non existent boreholes claimed to have been sunk by the Benue state Rural Water and Sanitation Agency, BERWASA.
Committee Chairman called on the state government to recover these monies immediately.
The committee's five-point term of reference included among others;
*to study the handing over notes of the immediate past administration under the leadership of Rt. Hon Gabriel Torwua Suswam, interact with all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the State Public Service and ascertain the state of Affairs as at the time of handover.
*To ascertain the assets of the state including physical assets and investments,
*To ascertain the level of indebtedness of the state including commercial Bank Loans, State Revenue Bond; Arrears of Pensions and Arrears of Gratuities, indebtedness to contractors, judgement debts; Foreign Loans; Arrears of Salaries; and CBN loans;
* To review the revenue collection machinery of the state with a view to improving revenue generation; and
*To consider any other matter incidental to the smooth take off of government.
Members of the 16 member Transition Committee include Mike Iordye, Akange Audu, Arc Joe Kyaagba, Terwase Orbunde, Barr Tagema Takema, Maj-Gen Lawrence Onoja (rtd) as well as Prof Johnson Onah.
Others are Prof Steve Ugbah, Rhoda Ako, Hon Titus Zam, Paul Udenyi, Patricia Kupchi, Dr Christopher Obilikwu Obute, Mrs Helen Bendega, Nancy Awuese Torhee as well as Boniface Nyaakor, the director of EXCO who also served as secretary of the committee

Benue Government Inaugurates Probe Committee Members

The Benue State governor,  Samuel Ortom today inaugurated two committees to probe the activities of the state government from June 2007 to May 2015.
The two committees were tasked with the verification of funds accrued to the state and received  from the federal government as well as government assets within the time frame including revenue.

The fund verification committee was tasked with ascertaining the quantum of shares/stock owned by the Benue state in  companies or enterprises. And the status of such shares, including the circumstances that led to the sale of state owned shares/stock and their worth or value and also identify the investors who bought these shares/stock and determine whether the transactions followed due process of law.
The team which comprises of seven members namely; Hon Justice E N Kpojime ( chairman), Barr JI Abaagu, Rev Prof Francis Wegh, Dr Christopher Obute, Jacob Mulya, Mr Sekegh Akaa(secretary, Michael Albert (Lead counsel), were also mandated to Ascertain the whereabout of the proceeds of the sale of such shares, determine if government of Benue state has any equity left in the said companies and value of such equity and also if funds realised above were appropriated.
They are also to find out the application and utilisation of such funds while establishing misappropriation if any and identify the person or persons involved, as well as recommend appropriate actions to the government.
Also inaugurated was the sale/lease of government assets commission of inquiry which also comprised of six members namely;  Barrister Moses Atagher (chairman), Mr Ngutor Anyam, Barr omale omale, Prof moses ogbaje, Rep commissioner of police, Mr Andrew Amee(Secretary).
The commission was tasked with the responsibility of identifying all government properties that have been sold/leased since June 2007 and determine the status and correct value of such properties as at time of sale.
It will also dentify those who bought or took on lease such properties and in case of lease determine what improvements have been made and the subsisting interest of government in transaction, determining the value of the sale / lease and establish whether the transactions were in the interest of the government and if due process was followed.
The commission will determine whether the terms of the lease agreement have been complied with and generally review all such transactions and advise government on the appointment so actions in the interest of the people and good governance.
Both committees were given six months to submit their report

Ortom Announces Portfolios For Commissioners and Special Advisers

After a three-day retreat organised at the Benue Peoples' House organised for Commissioners and Special Advisers,  governor Samuel Ortom assigned portfolios to commissioners and special advisers who were earlier sworn in without portfolios.

He made the announcement today evening at the end of a three-day retreat at the Banquet Hall of the Benue Peoples House.
The portfolios are as follows:
*Michael Gusa – Justice
*David Olofu - Finance
*Odeh Ageh - Information and Orientation
*Emmanuel Manger- Works and Transport
*Nick Wende - Water Resources and Environment
*Mwuese Mnyim – Women Affairs
*Professor Dennis Ityavyar – Education, Science and Technology
*James Anbua – Agriculture
*Sekav Iyortyom- Arts, Culture and Tourism
*Onoja Lawrence- Youths and Sports
*John Otokpa- Housing and Urban Development
*Dr Tersoo Kpelai- Industry, Trade and Investment
*Dr Cecilia Ojabo- Health and Human Services
SPECIAL ADVISERS
*Alhaji Isah Usman – Monitoring and Evaluation
*Bureau for Lands and Survey – Professor Jonathan Uever
*Ethics and Value Orientation – Godwin Idoko
*Special Duties – Arc Joe Kyaagba
*Agro Business – Simon Abua Yajir
*Religious Affair and Civil Society – Rev Joseph Ogezi
*Gender – Joseph Odaudu
*Media and ICT – Tahav Agerzua
*SME’s and Micro Financing – Dr. Austine Idogah
*Employment and Labor Matters Barrister Patricia Kupchi
*Rural Development – Tsenongo Abancha
*Development Cooperation, MDG’s and NEPAD-Dr Mrs Dura
*Research and Strategy – Dr. Adzer Abya
*Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs-Titus Zam
*Legislative and Inter-Governmental Affairs
*Security – Col Edwin Jando rtd
*Economic Investment – Dr Bem Melladu
*Political Affairs – Sarwuan Tarnongo

MURDER OF ATOZA IHINDAN: FAMILY POINTS FINGER AT GOVERNOR ORTOM’S CSO, PETITION POLICE IG

The family of murdered PDP chieftain and elder statesman, Chief Atoza Ihindan, MFR, have disclosed their suspicion of the Chief Security Officer to the Benue State Governor, Dickson Orlu Pawa, and one other as masterminds of the murder and have written to the Inspector General of Police.

The family made this known through Mr Terfa Atoza, a former Commissioner under former governor Gabriel Suswam, in a press statement today in Abuja.

Mr Atoza’s press statement is as follows:

Gentlemen of the Press

It is with a heavy heart that I address you today on the gruesome murder of my father, Late Rt. Hon. Atoza Ihindan (MFR), who was a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party and caucus chairman of the party in Benue Northeast senatorial district.

As widely reported by most of you, my father had gone out to inspect the perimeter fence of a property within Katsina-Ala town last Friday in company of a police escort and aide before two hired killers who rode on a motorcycle, came and shot him at close range. He died on the spot.

I condemn the dastardly act and call on all well meaning citizens of this country to join me in doing so, particularly that my father did not do anything to warrant being assassinated.

While the police are doing their best to unearth the identity of the killers, I am constrained to state that I strongly suspect Superintendent of Police, Dickson Orlu Pawa, the Chief Security Officer to Governor Samuel Ortom who was the Aide De Camp to former Governor Gabriel Suswam for seven years five months and Mr. Moses Anaana, (alias Anaana J.) as the masterminds of my father’s assassination.

I have already filed a petition to the Inspector General of Police stating my reasons why I suspect these men.
I am particularly distressed about the political assassinations in Nigeria. The killing of people because of political differences is reprehensible and does not help our efforts to build democracy in this country. Human life is sacred and those that deprive other humans of their life should be held to account for their crimes. I call on you to assist me to bring the killers of my father to book and to be vigilant so that together we can put away this sad horrendous activity from our national life.

Meanwhile the Police have arrested 14 suspects in connection with the murder.

State Police Public Relations’ Officer, ASP Austin Ezeani in a statement to The Guardian yesterday said one of those apprehended is suspected of being the one who fired the shot that killed Chief Atoza, a woman and her baby in Katsina-Ala local government area of the State.

Ezeani said that the suspect was arrested with bullet wounds on his leg, adding that an AK47 gun loaded with 128 rounds of live ammunition was also found on him.

“Those arrested are assisting the police with useful information in unraveling the perpetrators of these dastardly acts for prosecution. We are also mopping up arms from those who are not embracing the amnesty program of the State governor,” Ezeani explained.

Exposed! How Suswam robbed Benue of N500million revenue

More facts have emerged how former Benue state Governor, Gabriel Suswam aided the defrauding of the state in Internally Generated Revenue, IGR running close to half a billion naira.

It is not clear how much of this may have been carried out against the state in other sectors through this official conspiracy.

Investigations reveal that from 2007 to 2015,  Suswam as the governor of Benue state, deliberately aided other officials in his government in bleeding the state of revenue through official negligence and deliberate policy more than anyone else in the past.

Incidentally, the former governor's tenure ended on a sour note as his administration could hardly meet financial obligations to civil servants where salaries, allowances, pension and gratuity were owed upto 12 billion naira.

Available records indicate that the former governor recklessly approved waivers on land charges to his wife, Arc Yemisi Suswam, family, friends and political associates at the detriment of the poor financial status of the state amounting to over N500 million.

Not withstanding the dwindling revenue that accrued to the state, Governor Suswam indulged in flagrant abuse of his offace by indiscriminately approving waiver applications.

In one of such waiver letters with Ref No: Q/26/XIII/5 dated 26th May, 2015 and signed by Eugene Ivase,  former Permanent Secretary,  Governmnet House administration to the former Commissioner of Lands and Survey, the former governor approved the waiver of land charges in favour of Sev-Av Foundation,  a supposedly non profit organisation floated by his wife to the tune of over N30.9 million.

The letter, entitled: Re: Application for Waiver of Land Charges reads: "His Excellency,  the executive governor of Benue state,  Rt. Hon. Gabriel Suswam,  PhD, CON has approved waiver of land charges amounting to N30,932,800.00 (Thirty Million, Nine hundred and thirty two thousand, eight hundred naira) only in favour of Sev-Av Foundation."

Ivase concluded in the one page letter which was copied to the coordinator of the Sev-Av Foundation, "find His Excellency's approval on the attached copy of the letter dated 11th May,2015, please."

It was learnt from officials of the Ministry of Lands and Survey that many of such waiver letters were sent to the land registry thereby robbing the state off in revenue that would have impacted positively on the development of the state.

Sources in the ministry of finance, agriculture and works gave hints of similar flagrant abuses encouraged by the past administration thereby siphoning monies that would have come into the state coffers as revenue to personal pockets of family, friends and political hangers on who were patronised just to keep the state perpetually broke and at the whims of the former governor and his allies.

Court Sacks Benue PDP lawmaker

The Federal High Court, sitting in Makurdi, has sacked a member of the Benue State House of Assembly, representing Oju 2 State Constituency, Mr. Mathew Ire, of the Peoples Democratic Party over illegal substitution of name.

The Presiding Judge, Justice Binta Nyako, on Wednesday ordered that Ire, who contested the PDP House of Assembly primaries on November 29, 2014 alongside the plaintiff, Agi Adigwu and Jairus Erube, the then incumbent Assembly member.

At the December party primaries, Ire, who was declared winner, scored 10 votes while Adigwu polled 11 votes and Erube got five votes.

The party however handed the party flag to Ire and subsequently declared the PDP’s candidate.

He won the election and the Independently National Electoral Commission issued him a Certificate of Return.

Adigwu had approached the Federal High Court to seek redress, praying the court to reverse the decision of the party concerning the outcome of the primary.

Justice Nyako ruled that it was illegal for the PDP to substite the name of the winner of the primaries and fielding Ire, who did not score the highest number of votes.

Nyako ordered that the PDP Assembly member, who had been inaugurated, be removed from the seat immediately.

She also directed INEC to withdraw the Certificate of Return issued to Ire and issue the certificate to Adigwu, who should be sworn in.

Suswam's DG Arrested for Culpable Homicide

The  Director-General for the failed senatorial bid of former governor of the state, Gabriel Suswam, Mr. Terfa Atii has been arrested by the police in the state for culpable homicide.

Hon.  Terfa Atii

Mr. Atii, who represented Ushongo/Kwande federal constituency between 2003 and 2007 in the House of Representative is now cooling his heels behind bars at police AIG zone 4 for allegedly been responsible for the murder of a 14-year old girl, Terkumbur Aguji.

According to investigations, the Peoples Democratic Party chieftain had invaded a polling unit in Ushongo local government area with armed thugs during the April 11 senatorial election with the intent to snatch INEC ballot papers to enable him thumbprint in favour of his party.

It was gathered that when the plan was foiled by the voters, the thugs started shooting sporadically during which a stray bullet hit the innocent girl who was rushed to the Wantor Hospital in the local government where she later died.

One of the thugs who accompanied the former lawmaker on the mission, and who allegedly identify the victim as coming from Atii's rivals in the land tussle, is also said to be the one who fired the shot when a stray bullet hit the girl.

The killing of the girl it was learnt, triggered off violent protests as youths on a revenge mission, burn down a house belonging to the PDP chieftain.
According to a police Exhibit marked 'A' which contains the police report, the case was reported to the police on April 11 at the police headquarters in Makurdi.

When contacted, the state command's Public Relations Officer, ASP Austin Ezeani denied knowledge of the petition, but a police officer at the AIG headquarters where Mr. Atii is currently cooling his heels who spoke to our correspondent but preferred to be anonymous said the former lawmaker was in detention on the orders of his boss.

A lawyer handling the case, Barrister James Shior of Joe Abaagu Chambers also confirmed the incidence said the thugs came in a vehicle with Mr. Atii to snatch the electoral materials, adding that the matter has been reported to the police.