The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has summoned the former Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, for questioning over corruption allegations.
Ortom visited the Makurdi office of the anti-graft agency on Tuesday morning to honour the invitation and has been in their custody for several hours as of the time of writing this report.
The EFCC has initiated an investigation into allegations of corruption involving the former governor. While the specific details of the allegations have not been disclosed, it is believed that Ortom is currently undergoing an intensive interrogation by a team of EFCC interrogators.
The seriousness of the matter is evident from the fact that journalists were asked to leave the premises of the EFCC office, indicating the sensitivity and confidentiality surrounding the ongoing investigation.
Ortom served as the Governor of Benue State, Nigeria, from 2015 to 2023. During his tenure, he faced various allegations of corruption and mismanagement of public funds. These allegations included financial impropriety, embezzlement, and money laundering.
Ortom’s administration was accused of diverting state funds meant for developmental projects into personal accounts and using them for personal gains. Additionally, there were claims of inflated contracts and fraudulent practices within the government procurement process.
The EFCC, as Nigeria’s anti-corruption agency, is responsible for investigating and prosecuting financial crimes, including corruption and economic fraud. The agency has been actively pursuing cases against public officials accused of involvement in corruption and embezzlement of public funds to promote transparency and accountability in governance.
It is important to note that at this stage, the allegations against Samuel Ortom are still under investigation, and he should be presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The EFCC’s summoning of Ortom reflects its commitment to upholding the rule of law and fighting corruption in Nigeria.
