The Asset Recovery Commission set up by Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia on Tuesday raided an auto factory owned by former governor Samuel Ortom with a tow truck and removed several vehicles.
According to Vanguard, Governor Alia recently revealed through his chief spokesperson, Kula Tersoo, that 29 government vehicles were allegedly looted by the former governor.
In a statement, Telsou said, “The destruction of furniture, window blinds, electronics, and other appliances is deplorable, especially in the case of government buildings.
In addition to this, all vehicles, including ambulances and a press bus belonging to the governor’s office, were carted away.
At last count, 29 vehicles belonging to the governor’s office have yet to be found.
A source told our reporter on Tuesday that the Asset Recovery Committee raided Ortom’s auto factory on Tuesday afternoon, but was met with resistance by the workers there.
Bemugba Iortyom, publicity secretary of the People’s Democratic Party, admitted that state officials went to Ortom’s auto plant.
Iortyom said, “Governor Alia has now sent a tow truck to former Governor Ortom’s auto body shop in an unsuccessful attempt to remove the vehicle.
It will be recalled that Ortom and Lieutenant Governor Benson Aboune secured a court order restraining the Asset Recovery Board from pursuing them.
In a lawsuit marked MHC/199/2023 filed through lawyer Douglas Pepe (SAN), Ortom and Aboune asked the court to determine “whether the property lawfully allocated to them as entitlements and compensation is considered state government property.”
They are seeking “whether the combined effect of Sections 5(2), 44 and 318(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, validates the administrative acts and decisions of the Benue State Governor and government taken in good faith by Messrs. Ortom and Abunu and the State Executive Committee before May 29, 2023, the court’s determination of whether or not they are valid.”
The former governor and deputy governor also ask the court to determine “whether the Governor of Benue State is not bound by the constitutional recognition by his predecessor.”
They argue that the Asset Recovery Commission established by Alia has no authority to interfere with their right to own property “granted by the Benue State government at any material time or without due process.”
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