Ex-Benue Governor Ortom Loses Bid to Stop Corruption Probe, Reason Emerges

• Samuel Ortom on Tuesday, July 30, lost out in his attempt to prevent the Benue government from probing his administration’s finances
• The court in Benue state dismissed the former governor and chieftain of the PDP Ortom's suit for lacking substance
• Legit.ng reports that Governor Alia had initiated two judicial commissions of inquiry in February to examine the Benue state government's funds (income and expenditure) from May 29, 2015, to May 28, 2023, during Ortom's tenure.

Legit.ng journalist Esther Odili has over two years of experience covering political parties and movements.

A high court sitting in Makurdi on Tuesday, July 30, dismissed the applications filed by the former governor of Benue, Samuel Ortom, to stop the Benue state government from probing him.

Legit.ng reports that Governor Hyacinth Alia constituted two commissions of inquiry to investigate Ortom.

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Irked by the decision to probe him, Ortom sued the Benue government, attorney general, and members of the commission. He had challenged their competence to check his administration’s finances.

"Ortom's suit lacked merit", Court rules

Delivering a ruling on the case on Tuesday, Justice Tertsea Asue dismissed the two originating motions and an application for extension of time instituted by counsel to Ortom, Maduabuchi Uba, for lack of merit, PremiumTimes reported.

Justice Asue held that the applicant’s case was statute-barred. He also held that the applicant also failed to seek leave of court before filing the originating motion which seeks to bring his suit before the court.

"There was nothing in the Public Officers Protection Law or the rules of court that provided for an extension of time to file an action out of time.

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"Both actions did not follow the required due process of law," the judge ruled.

“Alia can’t probe me”: Ortom brags

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Ortom lambasted his successor for initiating a lawsuit against his government.

He maintained that Governor Hyacinth Alia cannot probe him because the state's auditor general had already investigated his administration.

The ex-governor has continued to make the headlines over his perceived face-off with his successor.

Proofreading by James, Ojo Adakole, journalist and copy editor at Legit.ng.

Source: Legit.ng