Assets Recovery Committee Defies Court Order, Raids Fmr Gov

A Benue state Assets Recovery Committee has defied a court order, raiding a private automobile workshop in Makurdi, carting away vehicles  of former Governor Samuel Ortom.

It also took away other vehicles on sight at the location.

A Makurdi High Court had earlier given an order restraining the committee from such an action against the ex-Governor and his then Deputy.

But Chairman of the committee, Mr. Hinga Biam has said the operation would continue notwithstanding.

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The operation is still ongoing as you speak to me and I can’t say how many vehicles have been recovered so far. If you don’t have keys to the car what options do you have? You can only tow it.

“Once you don’t have the keys, you suspected that it is cars that belong to government, you have to move it somehow. The person in charge did not provide the keys, it was someone who said he was the mechanic that was there.”

Ortom on his side has expressed shock at the raid, saying it smacked of lawlessness.

The former governor stated this in a statement by his media aide, Terver Akase.

“We are shocked beyond belief at the development which smacks of lawlessness. The media show that followed the incident indicated that the present administration in the state is out to torment, persecute and humiliate the former Governor using every unconventional means.

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“As we previously stated, the Benue State Executive Council during the last administration, gave approval that Governor Ortom, his Deputy and appointees of that administration should leave with their official vehicles. The invasion of a workshop today by members of the Assets Recovery Committee who were accompanied by security operatives from Government House to tow away vehicles, many of which do not belong to the former Governor, was the height of illegality.

The assets recovery committee operated at a commercial workshop owned by London Lines Transport Ltd.

“When the present Governor set up the Assets Recovery Committee and they made Chief Ortom a target, he approached the court and the matter is still in court.

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“His Excellency Ortom is not the first former Governor to vacate office with the official vehicles allocated to him. His predecessors, former judicial officers, legislators such as the Chief of Staff to the present Governor, Paul Biam, the Assets Recovery Committee Chairman, Hinga Biem and other members of the committee who served in government at different times all left with the official vehicles given to them”.

He described Chief Ortom as a law abiding man who served the state as Governor and has not committed any offense deserving the persecution that the present administration has subjected him to.

According to him, the ex-governor would also continue to abide by the rule of law.

The Eagle reports that the assets recovery committee is headed by Hingah Biem .