JUSTICE KPOJIME REPORT: Group petitions UNHRC over irregularities.

Benue Action Group (BAC) has petitioned the United Nations Human Rights Council over some irregularities in the Justice Elizabeth Kpojime Commission of Inquiry which was set up by the governor of Benue state, Mr. Samuel Ortom, to probe his predecessor, Dr. Gabriel Suswam, and some key players in the immediate past administration.



The petition which was signed and sent to journalists by the group’s national facilitator, Barrister Joshua waroh, was addressed to the office of the United Nations Human Rights Commissioner in Geneva, Switzerland.

According to the petitioner, the Kpojime Commission is made up of politicians who were in one way or the other looking for assistance, financial gratification and political appointments in the Ortom-led administration.

The petition went on to say that Governor Ortom had promised members of the Commission political appointments if they could arrive at outrageous figures at all cost in order to be able to indict Gabriel Suswam and some of the people who worked with him between 2007 and 2015.

The petitioners urged the UNHRC to compel Governor Ortom to give a public explanation on why Barrister Moses Atagher, chairman of the commission of inquiry into sale and lease of government property, wasn’t given any appointment.

“We understand that Atagher who was asked by the governor to step down from the commission wasn’t given any appointment because he submitted a true report which didn’t in anyway indict Suswam or any of his men.

“When Atagher was submitting the report, he made it known to the governor that he wouldn’t manipulate his findings in order to implicate innocent people. That was why he had to quit the committee and forfeit the appointment he was promised by the governor”

The petition also reads: “The Kpojime Commission of Inquiry has indicted 52 people as mandated by Governor Ortom but some people who worked with the former governor between 2007 and 2015 but later decamped to the All Progressive Party, APC, were not mentioned in the report.

“For instance, a former Special Adviser to Suswam on Local Government and Chieftains Affairs, Honourable Sam Ode, and then ALGON chairman, Mr. Augustine Avaan who had since decamped to the APC, were not mentioned in the Kpojime reports even when it was clear that a large portion of local government/ALGON funds were utilized during their tenure. ALGON transactions were originated by the ALGON meeting comprising all local government chairmen in the state and considered and approved by the JAAC.

“Also within the period under review, approvals were given by JAAC to ALGON for HIV/AIDS support, construction of lecture theatre in higher institutions including the BSU, purchase of Ambulances, purchase of security vehicles and gadgets, provision of instructional materials to schools, construction of ALGON guest house and security expenses during the TIV/Herdsmen crisis to mention a few”

Finally, the group urged the world body to prevail over Governor Ortom to stop placing his personal interest above the interest of Benue people.

Source Nigerian Concord