Alleged N1.7bn Fraud: Benue Group Demand Sacking of Gov Alia’s Aide, Akura

…urges EFCC, ICPC to intervene 

From Attah Ede, Makurdi 

A group known as Benue Progressive Forum (BPF), on Tuesday, condemned the continued stay in office of Dennis Akura as special adviser to Governor Hyacinth Alia of  Benue State, after he was allegedly fingered in a N1.7bn fraud while serving as the then special adviser on Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

The group further called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission(ICPC) to help Governor Alia in investigating and unearthing any act(s) of corruption at the Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs

BPF  in a statement made available to newsmen in Makurdi, lamented that, despite the report by the Adhoc-committee of Benue State House of Assembly indicting the former Adviser on LGACA of  alleged fraud, Governor Alia still went  ahead to reassigned  him as new Adviser on Financial and Economic Strategy, Planning and Development.

The group stated that this development is clearly against the promise by the Governor to be transparent and accountable to the people of the state. 

The statement which was signed by the National President, Philip kwaghfan and  the Secretary General, Martins Idoko noted that the report of the State House Assembly Adhoc-Committee constituted to investigate the activities of the caretaker committees of the 23 local government councils in Benue State clearly stated that the security votes of 22 local governments was pilfered or misappropriated. 

“This is clearly against the promise by Governor Hyacinth Alia to be transparent and accountable to the people of the state. 

“What happened to the security votes of 22 local government councils is also against the intention and spirit of the judgment of the Supreme Court which granted autonomy to local governments in the country. 

“Governor Alia himself is a champion of local government autonomy, so cannot not overlook such acts under his watch.

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“As supporters of the Alia administration, we find the report indicting Hon. Akura as an insult on the people’s administration of Hyacinth Alia and Governor Alia must do the needful now to serve as a detterant to others. 

“We also use this opportunity to call on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission(ICPC) to help Governor Alia in investigating and unearthing any act(s) of corruption at the Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs”, the statement said. 

The group maintained that the prompt intervention of EFCC  and ICPC will help the governor in dealing decisively with anyone who has abused his or her office and not working in the interest of the masses of the State as being championed by Governor Alia. 

“On the part of the report that raised questions on activities at the Benue State Universal Basic Education Board( SUBEB), we wait for the explanation of the SUBEB Chairman, Dr. Grace Adagba, who has been asked by the State Assembly to explain the whereabout of N2 billion. 

“After she appears and explains, we shall wait for the position of the State Assembly, then make our comments known to the public. 

“As for Akura, the Assembly has already foreclosed his matter by asking him to refund a whopping sum of N1.7 billion. 

“We also use this opportunity to call on Benue people to continue to support the Alia administration to continue to deliver dividends of democracy to Benue people”, the group stated.