Politics
Some billions allegedly disappear from Benue’s N14.9bn Paris Club refunds
The Governor Samuel Ortom-led government of Benue State has alerted of an alleged disappearance of N4 billion from the final tranche of the Paris Club refund to the state.
The governor had about two weeks ago declared that he had received N14.9 billion from the Federal Government as the last tranche of the Paris Club refund to the state.
However, officials of the state government about five days later announced that the Federal Government had withdrawn the money, a development that left Benue government and its workers kicking.
The state had hoped that the withdrawn money was going to be sent back. But in a statement on Friday, Ortom raised the alarm through his Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase, that N4 billion had disappeared from the N14.9 billion.
The state warned that the alleged disappearance must remain a rumour as it was not going to receive any amount less than the N14.9 billion back to the state account.
“We have heard the rumour that N4bn disappeared from the N14.9bn final tranche of the Paris Club refund to Benue State which the Federal Government later withdrew from the state’s bank account.
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“We hope that this remains a mere rumour. Nothing must happen to the N14.9bn. If this is a ploy to sell a dummy to the people and later take away the said amount, those behind it had better change tactics because this has failed already.
“We will accept nothing less than the N14.9bn back to the state account,” the statement read.
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