Alia Seized 23 Allocated Vehicles, Court Ordered Their Return — Ortom

Former Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has alleged that Governor Hyacinth Alia’s administration seized 23 vehicles that had been allocated to him by the state government after he left office.

Ortom made the allegation on Tuesday during an interview on Arise Television’s Morning Show, saying he challenged the seizure in court and secured a judgment directing the state government to return the vehicles.

According to the former governor, the court also awarded him N5 million in damages over the matter. He maintained that the vehicles had been legitimately allocated to him by the Benue State Government before the end of his administration.

Ortom alleged that the vehicles were taken without prior communication and described the manner of the seizure as inappropriate. He said his decision to approach the court resulted in a judgment in his favour.

The former governor further claimed that the seizure was part of what he described as a wider political campaign against opponents by the Alia administration.

He also accused the current government of excluding political stakeholders from discussions on the affairs of the state. According to him, no meeting involving political parties and other stakeholders had been organised since Alia assumed office.

Ortom further alleged that Alia recently instructed traditional rulers not to receive him when he visited his community to inform his kinsmen about his wife’s intention to contest for a senatorial seat.

The former governor also raised concerns about the financial autonomy of local governments in Benue. He claimed that local government chairmen in the state were yet to take control of their funds despite the Supreme Court judgment affirming financial autonomy for local governments.

Alia, who is a member of the All Progressives Congress, succeeded Ortom as Benue governor on May 29, 2023. He defeated Titus Uba, the Peoples Democratic Party candidate who was supported by Ortom.