Benue Governor Ortom Buys N.5 Billion Luxury Vehicles For Aides

ile Benue groans under severe financial hardship, the state Governor, Samuel Ortom, has shelled out N558.7 million for luxury vehicles for his aides and local government chairmen.

Mr. Ortom came to power with what he called five-pillar agenda, including a promise to create an enabling environment for citizens to engage in meaningful businesses.

The governor said in his inaugural address on May 29 that the policy would enhance the living condition of Benue people and in the process reduce over-dependence on government.

The five-point agenda promised good gov­ernance and revenue security; agricultural-driven in­dustrialization, improvement in science technolo­gy, arts and mathematics, invest­ment in critical infrastructure, and promotion of gender equality and empowerment of women, youth, sports and persons with disabil­ities.

But a few months into the administration and in what appears to be a departure from the development agenda, Mr. Ortom has bought 13 new Toyota Land Cruiser Prado SUVs for commissioners in the state.

The 13 Prado cars came at a whopping N240.5 million, with each costing the state N18.5million.

The governor also bought 43 new Toyota Corolla cars at the cost of N318.2 million, with each delivered at the cost of N7.4 million.

The Toyota Corolla cars were distributed to the 20 special advisers appointed by Mr. Ortom while the remaining 23 went to local government chairmen in the state.

But PREMIUM TIMES checks showed that the costs at which the vehicles were supplied to the state government were outrageous when compared to the prices of similar vehicles on Carmudi, an online car sales portal.

At the online car depot, a company, Auto Ten Limited sold a Toyota Land Cruiser Prado, 2015 model (Black) for N11 million only, against the N18.5mllion for which a similar car was supplied to Mr. Ortom.

Another dealer, Lanre Shittu Motors, offered the same vehicle for N11 million.

However, a new Toyota Corolla 2015 model sold for N5 million against the N7.4 million Mr. Ortom paid for each of the 43 vehicles he bought for his aides and council chairmen.

But apart from breaking his promise of fiscal discipline, PREMIUM TIMES found that the governor violated the provisions of the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission Act.

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Good friends new finance minister

 we have been away for some times

The Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, on Wednesday formally assumed duty at the headquarters of the ministry of finance in Abuja.

Adeosun, who arrived at the ministry at about 3:30pm, was warmly received by directors and other top officials in the ministry.

The minister, as soon as she entered the ministry, left no one in doubt that she was out for business as she immediately went into a closed door meeting with directors in the ministry.

It was learnt that the meeting, which lasted for about an hour, was held to familiarise herself with the workings of the ministry.

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Aregbesola of withholding bailout funds.

Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has accused Governor Rauf Aregbesola of inflicting hardship on the people of the state, especially civil servants, by withholding the bailout funds rather than using it to pay salaries.
The party, in a statement issued by its spokesperson, Prince Diran Odeyemi in Osogbo yesterday, said the piecemeal mode adopted by state government in paying salaries was a further confirmation that the money had been fixed.
It added that workers in the state were last paid half of their July salaries, with all allowances being hitherto enjoyed by them removed, stressing that the retirees were also being treated in same manner, with many of them still being owed up to six months despite release of bailout funds to the state in August.
‘PDP seeking relevance’
However, the consultant on information to the state government, Mr. Sunday Akere, debunked PDP claims.
He said: “PDP wants to use our reaction to gain relevance. I am sure they have a copy of the Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, the state government signed with the workers.
“The bailout covered to June and we have paid June salaries, we have paid July and August.
“We signed an MoU with the workers and we have kept to the terms of the document religiously

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TARABA BOILS

 No fewer than eight persons died yesterday in Wukari town, Taraba State as violence broke out following the judgment of Elections Petitions Tribunal which nullified the election of Governor Darius Ishaku.
The tribunal, sitting in Abuja, on Saturday quashed the election of Gov. Darius Ishaku of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and declared Sen. Aisha Alhassan of the All Progressives Congress, APC, winner of the poll.
Some touts were said to have taken advantage of the anti-ruling protests to unleash mayhem while some residents fled their homes to the bush for safety. Gunshots also rent the air earlier in the day before the deployment of security agents to restore order.
Former Vice Chairman of Wukari Local Government Council, Alhaji Tanimu Danlele, said at least eight people lost their lives and more than 30 others were injured in the crisis.
The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr Joseph Kwaji,  told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), yesterday, in Jalingo that the crisis broke out in the early hours of Sunday.
He said that though the police had not concluded their investigations, the crisis might not be unconnected with the ruling of the tribunal.
“Yes there was crisis in Wukari, but it is under control now. Security men have been deployed to the area and normalcy has returned to the town.
“Investigation is ongoing but it is likely that the crisis is in connection with the verdict of the governorship election petition tribunal of Saturday,” he said.
The command’s image maker, who said that figure of casualty had not been ascertained by the police, warned the people not to take the laws into their hands.
He said the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Shaba Alkali, had moved to the area to ensure that peace was restored. He warned that the command would come hard on anyone bent on fomenting trouble in any part of the state over the verdict of the tribunal under any guise.

NIGERIA WON UNDER 17 WORLD CUP

Nigeria's Golden Eaglets have emerged champions of the Fifa Under-17 World Cup in Chile after defeating Mali 2-0.
The Cup triumph means that the Nigerians have successfully defended the title they won two years ago in the UAE.
Two quickfire second half goals from Victor Osimhen and Funsho Bamgboye ensured that Emmanuel Amuneke's men cruised to victory as Nigeria claimed their fifth world title at under-17 level.
The Nigerians should have gone in front in the fourth minute of the game but Osinachi Ebere's spot kick was saved by the Malian goalkeeper, Samuel Diarra, after Chato handled the ball in his box.
Ebere had a second bite on the cherry to score from Diarra's save but his header just grazed the crossbar and bounced back into play before the Malian goalkeeper then claimed the ball later.
Boubacar Traore then forced Nigeria goalkeeper Akpan Udoh into making a big save.
The Malians made life a bit difficult for Nigeria by pressing them very high and that denied the world champions the chance to express themselves.
The defending champions were always second best when it came to the second balls as the Malians looked quicker in winning the ball in such battles.
The high-pressing Malians reduced Nigeria with trying from range as Kelechi Nwakali produced a screamer but saw it go off target though Diarra had his goal covered.
Funsho Bamgboye should have given Nigeria the lead with eight minutes to the break but his headed attempt was cleared for a corner after superb work from Samuel Chukwueze.
Just before the break, the tournament leading scorer Osimhen had his first real attempt at goal and though the effort of the Nigerian striker looked to be heading off target, Diarra refused to be caught unawares as he sprawled on the turf to turn the ball away to safety.
The Golden Eaglets started the second 45 minutes better as Chukwueze and Osimhen made Diarra pull off two saves within eight minutes of the restart.
The champions continued to dominate and it was Udochukwu Anumudu's turn to have a go at the Malians. Nigeria opened score in the 56th minute and it had to be Osimhen who rifled the ball past Diarra from Chinedu Madueke's low cross.
The goal was Osimhen's 10th of the tournament and it meant the 16-year-old forward has set a new record of scoring the most goals in a single Fifa Under-17 World Cup edition.

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