War: EFCC Vs Benue Government

George Akume

As allegations of corruption fly against the government of George Akume in Benue State, the EFCC, last month swooped on suspected corrupt government officials in the state
By Sam Tyav, Makurdi
T he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has been on the neck of Benue State top government officials since last year. Some successful attempts were made as some top government officials have been arrested. A few of them are still making several visits to the EFCC headquarters in Abuja on the request of the Commission .

The Managing Director, Benue Investment and Property Company (BIPC) John Tine was one of those arrested late last year. It was alleged that Tine, a lawyer, on sighting the EFCC officials took to his heels and entered his car in a bid to escape. He was, however, pursued and caught at the state library board where he was said to have been rough-handled.

Similarly, the state's Commissioner for Local government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Emmanuel Udende, was also said to have been arrested by the Commission. After a thorough interrogation, the commissioner's account at Zenith Bank was said to have been frozen. The arrest of Udende, allegedly led to the removal of his home local government chairman (Ukum), Terngu Iorkyaa. Iorkyaa was believed to have been the person that supplied facts to Senator Daniel Saror who petitioned against Udende leading to his subsequent arrest. As a matter of fact, the government of Benue State did not intervene.

As if these ones were not enough, men of the Commission on July 27, stormed Makurdi in a more serious way. The drama experienced that day was not a funny one. Both the men of EFCC and the affected government functionaries cannot forget a hurry the ugly experience. EFCC officials who lodged in a hotel in Makurdi on July 26, commenced operation as work begun the following day. They took with them over forty armed policemen to the Secretary to the State Government (SSG)'s office where they allegedly refused to identify themselves. After planting their men at strategic positions, forced the SSG, Dr. John. Orokpo to accompany them to the targeted government functionaries. After persuasion and begging they presented a one paragraph letter to the SSG. They took all government confidential and classified documents including private the notes they saw on the tables after beating seriously the Special Assistant to the SSG, who insisted that they should identify themselves.

The Source learnt that those tipped by EFCC to be arrested included the Commissioner for Water Resources and Environment, Peter Ochijele, the State Accountant General, Nana Mede, Permanent Secretary Finance and Economic Planning, Chile Igbawua, his counterpart in Water Resources Terna Ahua and the Majority Leader, State House of Assembly, made Timothy Iorchor among others.

Men of the Commission actually did some arrests, which included the Permanent Secretary, Water Resources, Terna Ahua, a director, in the Local Government Ministry, Mrs. Ijir and a deputy director Peter Pav.

As fate would have it, it was not wholly the day for EFCC's men as youth mobilised in their hundreds to stop the action. The EFCC officials at the state secretariat narrowly escaped from the sight of the angry youths – kudos to the driver of the commission's men for his expertise.

But those arrested were taken to the Benue State Police Command where the youths, mostly students came in four trucks and demanded the release of the government functionaries arrested. An insider in the police force told The source that the government officials were released for fear of more troubles from the students as more were coming. A competent police source as well as the state government official revealed however, that the affected government officials were released on bail.

When contacted, the state's police commissioner, Ibe Aghanya confirmed the incident of the EFCC's visit to the state. He revealed that the commission's men left by the early hours of July 28.

Governor George Akume himself had a restless moment. On July 28 alone, Akume made at least three visits to the police command. These visits were believed not to be unconnected with the arrests of the government officials.

The students (according to them staged a peaceful demonstration) went to Government House, chanting, “EFCC should go to Otta Farm” “We don't want EFCC”.

Addressing the students at the gate of Government House, Makurdi, the Permanent Secretary Government House Administration Peter Ishoribo, who stood in for Governor Akume commended the students for their show of solidarity, saying, the state would remain an integral part of Nigeria.

He assured that EFCC were doing their routine job, “but if they are being manipulated, then it is unfortunate. We are not afraid of EFCC”, he stressed.

The leader and spokesman of the students, Robert Fanen, told the Governor that they were loyal to the government of the state and they came for solidarity. The students leader said the state has not done anything to warrant the arrest of any official of the government. According to him, it was the firm stance of Akume on the issue of tenure enlongation that necessitated that harassment.

Two other youth groups protested at Government House. The first came from Gboko and the other from Tarka Local Government. Both of them expressed their solidarity to the government of the state.

In a statement expressing their position, the chairman,, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Boga Abuul condemned the arrests. According to him, the visit of EFCC was meant to intimidate the government and people of Benue State. He urged President Obasanjo not to use the EFCC as a weapon to fight those that opposed tenure enlongation.

The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Tyozua Atim, who lamented the incident, told journalists, that, “we are totally against state terrorism. We are not going to relent,” he assured.

The state leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) later held a meeting at the Government House. There was no official statement as at press time but a member of the executive of the party who spoke on anonymous ground quoted the leadership to have condemned the intimidation by the EFCC of Obasanjo. They were disappointed in the Obasanjo administration and sued for a better and genuine way other than mere harassment of government functionaries.

The action of the men of the commission compelled the Benue State Government to hold an emergency state executive government on July 28.

Addressing correspondents after the emergency meeting, the state's commissioner for Information, Cletus Akwaya, condemned the arrest of the government functionaries, describing it as unwarranted.

According to Akwaya, the government of Akume, has done nothing to warrant such intimidation, insisting that it was the position the government and people of the state took on tenure enlongation that has propelled the government of Obasanjo to send EFCC after the state government functionaries.

He told journalists that the conduct of EFCC was completely illegal and assured that the state government will continue to fight such illegality. “We will resist such intimidation by Federal Government through all legal means”.

According to the state government's spokesman, the state is in full support of war against corruption and is the only state in the whole country to have set up a judicial commission of enquiry to look into government contracts. This commission is headed by a serving high court judge. Again, the state government has put in place a project monitoring team. These, the commissioner said are aimed at checking corruption in the state.

He lamented that the people of the state voted massively for Obasanjo in 1998 and 2003 and has nothing to show for it. Instead, Akwaya said, the Federal Government sent soldiers to destroy Benue settlements like Zaki Biam and others. “The state has been treated with disdain, hate and dislike. The action of EFCC is a clear case of hate”.

Akwaya revealed further that the state government has gotten an injunction from the High Court, Makurdi. The court presided over by Justice Tine Tur gave an order restraining the Federal Government, EFCC and the Commissioner of Police or any of their agents from arresting any state government officials.

He also gave an order restraining the Federal Government, EFCC, the Commissioner of Police or any of their agents from carting away state government's confidential documents until the determination of the suit.

While most people of the state are condemning the arrest of government functionaries as unwarranted, others critics of the state argue that the visit was a good thing to happen to the government of Akume.

But a clergyman who spoke to The Source on the grounds of anonymity said he had long expected the EFCC to come to the state. According to him. “I felt EFCC would come to the state shortly after the abortion of tenure enlongation”.

From the look of things, though the EFCC has withdrawn, they would reinforce and strike more powerfully. In this case it is better to keep the records straight.