April 29, (THEWILL)- Former Benue Governor, Samuel Ortom, has asked his counterpart in Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, to come out of hiding and answer his case with the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC).
THEWILL reports that the whereabouts of the former Kogi governor have remained unknown since April 17 after a failed attempt by the EFCC to arrest him at his residence in Abuja, over allegations of money laundering to the tune of about N80.2bn
Speaking on Sunday, at the Redeemed Church in Makurdi during the thanksgiving service organised by his aides to mark his 63rd birthday anniversary, Ortom urged Bello to come out and defend his administration, adding that his continuous hiding would bring disgrace to former governors across the country.
“I want to use this opportunity to advise my younger brother and friend, Yahaya Bello, not to disgrace former governors. You don’t need to hide; you don’t need to resist arrest or anything. Go there and respond.
“EFCC (officials) are human beings. If they are making enquiries, the laws are there. I have tried to get him on the phone, but I could not. I have tried those around him, but I could not, so I want this to be noted. So, wherever he is, if he can hear me, thank God the press is here, he should come out,” Ortom said.
While appreciating the Benue people for their support throughout his eight-year tenure and for celebrating him on his birthday, Ortom urged Benue youths to stop insulting elders on social media and take advantage of the internet to add value to their lives and bring development to the state.
“Do not insult the leaders or elders on social media. We all must be part of the process to bring peace so that progress, prosperity and development will come. The youth must take advantage of social media to bring development to themselves and the state. The whole world is in your palm, in your tablets and phones. Look at the essence of the internet.
“Now that you cannot go to the farms, go to the website and see what people are doing in order to be part of the world and to add value and bring wealth to yourselves,” he said.
Ortom expressed gratitude to God for his mercies over his life and family, saying he left the government house a better Christian and that he would continue to be and worship in the house of God.
In their remarks, the former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Michael Aondakaa; Chairman of Benue PDP, John Ngbede, and Senator Abba Moro, all appreciated Chief Ortom for his dogged fight for the security of the people.
They prayed to God to give him more opportunities to continue to contribute to the peace and development of the state.
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