Ortom's Aide Among 52 Indicted Persons ,Asked To Resign From The EXCO.

Following its acceptance of the white paper on the Justice Elizabeth Kpojime Judicial Commission of Inquiry, the Benue State Executive Council requested the Special Adviser on Rural Development, Mr. Tsenongo Abancha, to resign membership of the council.

The Commission indicted the member and others for their roles in the misappropriation of N500 million Bank of Industry micro credit fund.
The white paper directed Mr. Abancha and others to jointly and severally refund N19.5 million.It also prescribed the prosecution of former Governor Gabriel Suswam and others for various roles and barred them from holding public office.

The white paper which was presented to Governor Samuel Ortom at yesterday’s session by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Michael Gusa, gave the State Government the nod to recover over N107 billion from 52 key players in the immediate past administration.

The offences for which the accused persons are to be prosecuted include padding and inflation of contracts, embezzlement, misappropriation, misapplication, expenditure without approval and approval above limit.

The white paper stipulated outright dismissal or compulsory retirement of those still in the service of Benue State found to have participated in irregularities.

Accepting the report Governor Ortom pledged to ensure the looted funds which he said would be channeled into the development of the state.
He expressed appreciation to members of the commission and those who drafted the