Hir Joseph
16 September 2008
Makurdi — A routine visit by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to Benue State has led many of the local government chairmen into running from their offices.
The state chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Mr. Augustine Avaan, who was also not on seat for the checks when they visited his Katsina-Ala council, told Daily Trust on phone that "I was in London. The Federal Government is aware I was in London".
So far, apart from the chairmen of Otukpo and Gboko, Dr. Innocent Onuh and Mr. Simon Abua respectively, who have submitted themselves for the routine checks by the anti-graft agency, the rest of the chairmen are running away and leaving the councils in the hands of their subordinates.
Benue State police commissioner, Mr. Kayode Ibiyinka had confirmed that operatives of the EFCC visited the state but said he had no information on their mission. But both Otukpo and Gboko chairmen told our correspondent that the operatives were in the state for a random visit to the councils to ascertain how much has come into their respective treasuries, the expenditure, and payment vouchers. Both chairmen had willingly submitted their records for EFCC checks just as they also took the operatives round some projects to back up their expenditures. However many other chairmen, Daily Trust learnt, gave excuses on hearing of the visit of EFCC team to the state. The team of operatives, Daily Trust learnt, have so far visited Katsina-Ala, Logo, Kwande, Ukum, Apa and Otukpo and Gboko.
Ukum chairman, David Sevav, told newsmen earlier on that he was ready to receive the team but said he had to travel to the neighbouring Taraba State for a brief visit. Attempts to speak to Cornelius Odeje of Apa and Reverend Pastor Peter Adure of Logo did not yield any positive feedback as they all switched off their phones.
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