TheCable

Samuel Ortom, governor of Benue state, says the probe of his security vote spending by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is a case of persecution.

The EFCC had accused Ortom of misappropriating about N19 billion meant for security agencies deployed to Benue to tackle the clashes between farmers and herdsmen.

Ortom, while speaking with journalists on Wednesday, said he has a clean record and does not understand why the anti-graft agency is after him.

The governor said he’s bemused that none of his colleagues is being investigated for the same reason.

“The security vote spending being investigated spans from 2015 to 2018, a period of grave security challenges in the state. I reiterate that the investigation is a clear case of persecution,” he said, adding that he has not misappropriated, diverted or stolen any money.

“I have nothing to hide. I assure that the investigators can find nothing incriminating against me.

“If their focus was on Benue state, they should have started from 1999. But this is not the case. With the enormous security challenges in the state since my assumption of office, it is surprising that any one would expect me to do nothing but keep the security vote in the safe.

“How can you single me out of 36 (governors) for investigation?  It (security vote) is not something that any government will begin to disclose.  Why should Benue’s case be different if not persecution? If the EFCC wanted a genuine investigation of security vote spending, they should have started from the presidency and across the 36 states.”