May 12, (THEWILL)- The commission of inquiry set up by Governor Hyacinth Alia to investigate the income and expenditure of the Benue State Government from May 29, 2015, to May 28, 2023, said it has commenced collection of memoranda.
In a statement signed by Justice Taiwo. O. Taiwo (retd) and Dr. Abraham Gberindyer on Friday, the commission said that all memoranda, which will be addressed to the Chairman, should be in 11 hard copies and 1 soft copy.
According to the statement, such mail should reach the commission at Court 6, opposite Nigeria Immigration Service Command, Makurdi not later than 14 days from May 10, 2024.
The Commission is to, among others, identify the income of the Benue State Government from May 29, 2015 to May 28, 2023; look into the expenditure and utilisation of the income of Benue State from May 29, 2015 to May 28, 2023; identify all the Benue State Bank accounts and examine the propriety or otherwise of the transactions in the accounts from May 29, 2015, to May 28, 2023
The commission is also to identify the loans taken by the Benue State Government from May 29, 2015, to May 28, 2023, and ascertain the appropriateness of the utilisation, interest charged on the loans and the possible abuses thereof.
Others are to identify the loans given out by the Benue State Government, the alleged waivers and the possible abuses thereof, as well as identify the special interventions, including, but not limited to, the bailout funds, Paris Club refunds received by the Benue State Government from May 29, 2015 to May 28, 2023 and their application thereof.
The Commission is to further determine the internally generated revenue and the utilisation of same and identify cases of misappropriation, abuse, misuse and diversion of Benue State funds from May 29, 2015 to May 28, 2023 and such persons that were involved in the misappropriation, abuse, misuse and diversion of the funds and suggest the appropriate actions thereof.
It is also expected to Identify all the contracts that were issued by the Benue State Government from May 29, 2015, to May 28, 2023 and examine whether due process was followed in issuing such contracts and whether such contracts were actually executed; identify the actual wage bill of Benue State Government and payment thereof from May 29, 2015 to May 28, 2023; identify all the ghost workers who were paid salaries from May 29, 2015 to May 28, 2023 and review all such transactions and advise government on the appropriate action in the interest of the people and good governance, as well as to act on all other matters connected thereto.
“For the purpose of this instrument, Benue State Funds shall include the Income and Expenditure of the 23 Local Governments in Benue State.
“To help the Commission carry out its assignment effectively and timeously, the Commission hereby invites MEMORANDA from the Members of the Public; Financial Institutions/Banks; the 23 Local Government Councils of Benue State; Ministries, Departments and Agencies,” it added.
The Commission has six months, with effect from its first sitting, to submit its report for consideration.
Recall that the immediate past governor of the state, Chief Samuel Ortom, who ruled from May 29, 2015 to May 28, 2023 had indicated willingness to cooperate with the commission with a directive to appointees who served under his administration to be ready to give an account of their stewardship if called upon.
