Recovery commitThe immediate past governor of Benue State Mr Samuel Ortom has expressed shock over the actions of the state government under Rev. Hyacinth Alia regarding towing away of his vehicles and those belonging to others at a commercial workshop operated by London Lines Transport Ltd in Makurdi.
It was reported that members of the Assets Recovery Committee, acting on the directives of Governor Hyacinth Alia, forcibly entered the workshop.
A statement issued by Terver Akase, Ortom’s spokesperson, condemned the incident, stating that it reeked of lawlessness.
The statement said during the previous administration, the Benue State Executive Council had approved that Governor Ortom, his Deputy, and appointees should retain their official vehicles upon leaving office.
The statement reads
-“The attention of the immediate past Governor of Benue State, Chief Samuel Ortom has been drawn to an incident today at a commercial workshop operated by London Lines Transport Ltd along Otukpo road in Makurdi where his vehicles among vehicles owned by other people undergoing repairs were towed away after members of the Assets Recovery Committee, acting on the directives of Governor Hyacinth Alia had forced their way into the workshop.
“We are shocked beyond belief at the development which smacks of lawlessness. The media show that followed the incident indicated that the present administration in the state is out to torment, persecute and humiliate the former Governor using every unconventional means.
“As we previously stated, the Benue State Executive Council during the last administration, gave approval that Governor Ortom, his Deputy and appointees of that administration should leave with their official vehicles. The invasion of a workshop today by members of the Assets Recovery Committee led by one Barrister Tom Uja who were accompanied by security operatives from Government House to tow away vehicles, many of which do not belong to the former Governor, was the height of illegality.
“When the present Governor set up the Assets Recovery Committee and they made Chief Ortom a target, he approached the court and the matter is still in court.
“His Excellency Ortom is not the first former Governor to vacate office with the official vehicles allocated to him. His predecessors, former judicial officers, legislators such as the Chief of Staff to the present Governor, Paul Biam, the Assets Recovery Committee Chairman, Hinga Biem and other members of the committee who served in government at different times all left with the official vehicles given to them.
“Chief Ortom is a law abiding man who served the state as Governor and has not committed any offense deserving the persecution that the present administration has subjected him to. He will continue to respect the rule of law even in the face of the latest provocation.”
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