The Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, yesterday disclosed that his administration has dragged 52 individuals and organizations, indicted by the Justice Elizabeth Kpojime Judicial Commission of Enquiry, to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
He explained that this was done to recover the N107 billion allegedly looted from the treasury during the tenure of Gabriel Suswam.
Ortom, who spoke in Makurdi, the state capital, said he invited the EFCC after those who were indicted refused to return their alleged loot.
He said, “They would have been granted amnesty if they had returned the loot to the state treasury, but instead of toeing that part, they opted to take the government to court.
“We will not be deterred. We have taken the report of the panel to the EFCC and already officials of the anti graft agency from Enugu have paid assessment visits to the state pursuant to the petition.
“This administration believes in rule of law and due process, so whatever we do concerning the matter must be within the ambits of the law. We will do everything within the law to ensure that the looted funds were returned.
“Our zero tolerance for corruption cannot be compromised, and to that effect I have warned my appointees because anything to the contrary would be met with stiff sanctions.”
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