The Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC have released the former Governor of Benue State in North Central Nigeria, Samuel Ortom after an interrogation that lasted for about 10 hours at its Zonal Head office in Makurdi.
Ortom who drove to the premises of the EFCC on invitation in a convoy of a few SUV vehicles arrived at the office around 10:08 am local time and was only released at about 7:55 pm.
READ ALSO: EFCC Arrests Benue State Former Governor Ortom
Details of the discussion between the former governor and officials of the anti-graft agency remained sketchy as Journalists were not briefed.
But Voice of Nigeria gathered reliably that the ex-Governor is being interrogated over alleged financial misappropriation and, abuse of power among other sundry issues during his tenure as governor of Benue state.
In a brief statement made available to the press by his former Special Adviser on Media and ICT, Terver Akase had insisted that the former governor was neither arrested nor detained at the EFCC Zonal Headquarters in Makurdi.
“Contrary to insinuations in some sections of the media, the immediate past Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom today visited the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC to honour the invitation of the commission,” he said.
According to Mr Akase, “the former Governor has repeatedly said that he is available to respond to inquiries by anti-graft agencies as he has nothing to hide regarding his stewardship of Benue State”.
Attempts by Journalists to get comments from officials of EFCC and the former governor proved abortive as the whole arena was rowdy when the former governor stepped out with everyone looking exhausted while rushing out of the premises.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
