N1.328 bn salary scam: Benue officials on EFCC watch list

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is set to declare officials of the Benue State Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs wanted over refusal to honour invitations. The officials have been invited since July 2016 to explain their involvement in an alleged N1.328 billion salary scam in Benue State. EFCC agents leading the investigation told our reporter in Abuja on Tuesday that it discovered how 1.328 billion cash withdrawals were made from a joint State and Local Government bank account. It was said that new generation bank account operated by the Bureau often received the money meant for salary and pension of Benue workers directly from the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC). EFCC agents said plans are in place to declare all government officials involved in the transactions wanted and watch-listed. The EFCC said it had cause to investigate the matter after it received a petition from one Abubakar Tsav on 10th June 2016. The EFCC said Tsav who is a Commissioner in the Public Complaints Commission wrote the petition against the Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom and a former Chairman of Gwer West Local Government Area, Titus Zam. The petition alleged N929 million fraudulent transactions through the Bureau while workers and pensioners of the State have not been paid for a long time. The EFCC said they discovered the Bureau operated an account with a new generation bank numbered; 5030058730, where the money was withdrawn by two persons, Andoor Festus and John Bako. It was said that most of the money was withdrawn in cash amounts ranging from N20 million, N50 million and N150 million according to inflows from the FAAC. It was discovered that Andoor Festus withdrew N1.3 billion while John Bako suspected to belong to one of the security outfits in the State received N28 million. An EFCC leading case officer said, “We are making efforts to get them, but until now we have not gotten them.” He said the first invitation was sent to the Benue state government to release the individuals for questioning on 18th July 2016, while several reminders were sent afterwards. Investigators also said the next step is to go after the permanent secretary of the Bureau, and the director of finance of the Bureau. He said all those who were signatory on the cheques that enabled the cash withdrawals from the account would answer questions about the utilization of the funds. When contacted on Tuesday, Terver Akase, media aide to governor Ortom said, “We are hoping that the EFCC would not allow itself to be used as a tool for political witch-hunt. “That the invitation that is coming after Ortom has left the All Progressive Congress is leaving a lot of questions unanswered.” He said the EFCC is not a court of law, and they have no right to pass judgement. He said their duty is to investigate and hand over to the court for prosecution, adding that it is the court that has the right to pass judgment. He also said he has no information regarding the Benue state officials invited by the EFCC. ]]>