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Gov. Samuel Ortom Exposed

Gov Samuel Ortom of Benue State has been exposed by Alhaji Abubakar Tsav, an ex-Police Commissioner and Federal Public Complaints Commissioner of the Federation overseeing Benue State.

He has written a 10-page petition to President Muhammadu Buhari accusing the governor of “executive recklessness” and privatisation of the State:

“On 12th July, 2015, your brother who is the CEO, Oracle Business Ltd, Mr. Michael Ortom wrote a letter congratulating you on your electoral victory as Governor of Benue state. Gov Samuel Ioraer Ortom “In the same letter, he presented a proposal for the supply of thirty (30) units of Toyota Prado Jeeps Model Fx –2014 as Government official vehicles at the cost of N18, 000, 000 per unit, amounting to N540, 000, 000 (Five Hundred and Forty Million Naira).”

“This was not advertised and there was no open bidding, but you approved it and directed the SSG on 17th July, 2015 to treat. No due process was followed. This was the same executive recklessness that led the former Governor of Adamawa State to a five year jail term.”

“On 15th October, 2015, in a letter no. SSG/CONF/1520/VOL.1/13 o 15TH October, 2015,  your SSG directed the Honourable Commissioner for Finance to pay the sum of N540, 000, 000 to Oracle Business Ltd for the supply of the 30 Prado SUV’s.” “On 18th October, 2015, the Governor himself (you) directed the Accountant General in writing to pay this sum, reinforcing the earlier approval of the SSG in his letter quoted above. The whole affair is messy, clumsy and depicts Nepotism cum corruption. The governor is using his office to force government to patronise his private businesses.”

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“One of the governor’s In-laws has also won a contract for cleaning Benue Government House. There are no ongoing government projects in the whole state as it is being privatised to Oracle Business Limited. The governor is using the Holy Bible to exploit the people of Benue state. Nothing is happening in Benue state and the whole state looks like a town devastated by war. You cannot use the Bible on one hand and criminality on the other to exploit Benue people if you are truly a man of God. This is arrant selfishness and greed. Please pay workers their legitimate rights if you claim to be a man of God.”

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“The governor is using his office to hijack a humanitarian project, “Feed Mill Factory” meant for the state. Ortom had incorporated the mill into his family company, Oracle Business Limited. Recall that in 2015, a delegation of the foundation led by one Jacob Mignouna arrived Benue state and held discussion with you with a view to setting up a state of the art Cassava peel factory for production of Animal feed.”

“He reportedly signed an MoU with the government of Benue state and you signed on behalf of Benue state. According to reports, the government paid an unspecified amount as counterpart funding for the take off of the project “which was setting up of an ultra –modern” Feed Mill Factory for livestock feeds.”

“This business being a humanitarian project was offered free or at minimal costs for the benefit of the people of Benue state; but this was not to be. It is understood that you used your influence to hijack this project and integrate it to Oracle farm. This project is now located amongst your companies at Industrial Layout on Naka Road, Makurdi.”

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“This factory is equipped with the following machines; Graters, Hammer Mill, Pressers, Hydraulic jack, sieving machine and fryers with the deal facilitated by Philip Consultancy and Synergos Consultancy. The factory is now fully operational as a business entity of Oracle Business Ltd, wholly owned by your family company with sixteen (16) Chinese nationals working in your farm, contrary to the intentions of the donors.”

“A similar project is ongoing in Kogi State but the Kogi Governor has not hijacked it as his personal concern. The mill in Kogi is located in Ojapata in Ankpa LGA and is being run by the Kogi State Government in partnership with Agriculture and Core delivery team.”