Metro
Benue sues council chairmen for alleged corruption
Six suspended local government chairmen in Benue state have been dragged before the court for misappropriation of funds belonging to their councils.
The council chairmen were earlier on Monday suspended by the state House of Assembly following petitions by governor Samuel Ortom calling for their suspension.
The Director of Citizens Rights in the state, Mr Peter Agbese filed the suit on Wednesday on behalf of the Attorney-General of the state, Mr Michael Gusa, wherein the local government heads were alleged to have looted funds running into millions of Naira.
Francis Ogwucje of Okpokwu council was alleged to have misappropriated the sum of N32million meant for the burial of the victims of the Omusu massacre by herdsmen last year, while another allegation said he diverted N5million.
The government alleged that Mrs Justina Audu of Makurdi council misappropriated the sum of N20million earmarked security in Mbalagh Ward of the Makurdi Local Government Area.
Read also: Benue Pensioners give Gov Ortom 7 days ultimatum to settle arrears, or else…
Terdoo Kenti (Kwande council) was alleged to have conspired with Andrew Orvande (Kwande council vice chairman ) in converting. over N168 million belonging to Kwande council to their personal use.
Mrs Comfort Echoda (Agatu councik) and her deputy was said to have converted N150million meant for the council into personal use.
Beckie Orpin (Gboko) was alleged to have misappropriated the sum of N20million while Austin Okwoche (Oju Council) allegedly misappropriated N120million belonging to the council.
The Chief Magistrate, Mr Isaac Ajim, adjourned the case till February 5, 2019 for mention.
Join the conversation
Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism
Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.
As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.
If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.
Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.
INVESTIGATION: In Kwara, multimillion-naira milk processing plant is abandoned, converted to a chicken outlet
After the government spent millions of naira to establish a milk processing plant in Kwara State that would provided jobs...
SPECIAL REPORT: For Sokoto communities, promise of healthcare is akin to death sentence
In this story, ABDULRASHEED HAMMAD delves into the dire realities of Primary Health Care services in Sokoto State, shedding light...
ICYMI…SPECIAL REPORT: NNPCL hides behind PIA to frustrate disclosure, accountability
Nigeria’s major oil company, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), in what appears to be a common practice of disregard...
INVESTIGATION: Multi-million naira Ekiti resort center remains uncompleted a decade after
The multimillion-naira project, expected to comprise recreational buildings, now consists of cassava farmland, a bush used for excretion, and a...
SPECIAL REPORT: Torturous experiences of students with disabilities in Oyo tertiary institutions
For students with disabilities in Oyo state-owned tertiary institutions, learning is a torturous and distressing experience, considering the building structures...