The Benue state government has reported that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has frozen the bank accounts of the Benue State government domiciled in three banks.
This was revealed by the Chief Press Secretary to the State Governor, Mr Terver Akase in an interview with Channels Television on Wednesday.
While condemning the action by the EFCC, Mr. Akase said his boss, the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom will comment on the issue later in the day in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.
The EFCC allegedly froze the accounts after conclusion of investigations which revealed alleged abuse and misuse of Benue State’s security funds.
The Benue state government expressed concerns that it might be unable to meet its financial obligations; including paying of workers’ salaries if the accounts remained frozen by the EFCC.
The state government also described the action of the EFCC as part of alleged plots to frustrate its efforts after Governor Ortom defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The governor had defected from the ruling party to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on July 25, after some youths prevented him from attending a reconciliatory meeting convened by the APC national leadership in Abuja.
Read: I Will Remove Saraki in Ten Days – Oshiomole To Buhari
The youths had threatened to frustrate the 2019 political ambition of the governor if he went ahead to the meeting and reconciled with the APC.
Barely one week later, eight members of the APC in the Benue State House of Assembly served an impeachment notice on Governor Ortom amidst Police intimidation and unrest in the State.
The ruling APC had suffered a massive wave of defections in the last three weeks as lawmakers and senators decamped to the PDP in a list which included the Kwara state governor as well as the Senate President.
The National Assembly was also invaded by men of the DSS who prevented lawmakers and members of staff of the National Assembly alike from gaining access to the complex.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo condemned the invasion and sacked the head of the DSS, Mr. Lawal Daura and immediately replaced him with Mathew Seiyefa.
Opposition PDP have always accused the APC led Government of President Buhari of using state apparatus to hunt perceived political enemies especially the EFCC.