A judicial commission of inquiry set up by the Benue State government to probe the administration of former governor Gabriel Suswam has recommended the refund of N107 billion to the state by 52 individuals and 10 corporate bodies.
The current governor, Samuel Ortom, on assumption of office last May 29, set up a probe panel to investigate the income and expenditures of Suswam’s government between 2007 and 2015.
Submitting the report on Sunday to the governor at the Government House in Makurdi, head of the commission, Justice Elizabeth Kpojime, said that 69 memoranda, 108 oral testimonies and over 394 exhibits were entertained by the commission.
“The commission found that during the period covered by its assignment, which is from June 2007 to May 2015, a period of eight years, the total revenue that accrued to the state from about 27 sources identified was N1.21 trillion.
“Out of this amount, the actual appropriated amount was N802 billion, leaving a balance of N219bn,” Kpojime added.
According to her, some contracts worth over N100m were awarded verbally, while MDAs such as the Benue State Internal Revenue Service, Ministry of Commerce and Industry and Radio Benue generated revenue and spent it directly.
