The Benue State Government has established a commission to reclaim all stolen government property from the previous administration.
Recall that Governor Hyacinth Alia recently denounced the recent government led by Samuel Ortom for stealing government cars through his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula.
Tersoo had claimed, “The PDP robbed administration House to a point where the new administration under governor Hyacinth Alia met not a single automobile or truck in government house. During the governor’s travels to agencies and parastatals, the level of rot found there is at its greatest point in Benue State’s history.
However, Terver Akase, a former special adviser to the recently-departed governor, said in his statement that the State Executive Council of the previous administration had given government personnel permission to travel in their official vehicles.
With regard to automobiles, Akase had stated, “The current administration may wish to be advised that the Benue State Executive Council resolved that government personnel, including the Governor and his Deputy, be given waivers to enable them to travel in the official vehicles assigned to them.
As a result, when Governor Ortom drove away in the assigned official vehicles, he didn’t break any laws.
Tersoo Kula, the governor’s chief press secretary, however, said in a statement that the governor had established an assets recovery committee at both the state and municipal government levels.
The committee members are required, among other things, to determine all government assets, such as lands, cars, homes, furniture, and other machinery.
The announcement stated that security agency representatives would be sent on the recovery effort.
Former state attorney general, Barr. Joe Abaagu, former permanent secretary Hingah Biem, Dennis Akura, Ioryue Yajir, Peter Egbodo, Joseph Ojob, Jonathan Modi, Shaageer Matins, Yuhe Jerome, Tom Uja, and Tormbuwua Terlumun as member/secretary are all members of the asset recovery committee.
Jude Tyo, Aondowase Apera, Kwaghgba Amande, Richard Dzungweve, Anthony Sende, Olofu Ogwuche, Terver Kachina, and Nick Eworo, Member Secretary, are members at the local government levels.
The Department of State Security, the Police, the Military, and the Nigeria Civil Defence Corps would all have capable representatives on both committees, according to the statement.
The Governor has established a fact-finding committee for Benue State University in the same vein.
The committee has its chairman, Paul Biam, and members include;
Jacob Ajene, Terkimbi Ikyange, Prof. Eugene Alyegbe and Agbo Ochekpe as Member/Secretary.