Akume should be in prison for laundering N2bn – Ortom

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has said that he was a billionaire before he was elected governor.

Mr Ortom said this in reply to his estranged godfather, Senator George Akume, who accused him of enriching himself with state funds.

Mr Akume had said on Wednesday during the APC campaign in Benue that “there is one governor in the North-Central Nigeria, (referring to Ortom) who is richer than Buhari and has more money than Buhari in just three-and-a-half years of being a governor.”

However, Ortom, in reply accused Akume of laundering N2billion during his eight-year tenure as Benue State Governor.

“The truth of the matter is that Akume cannot hold me responsible for not being able to provide jobs; I was a billionaire before I became governor.

“Before I became a minister, I had to resign my position as the chairman of my company and the company is doing fine. I borrowed money from Nexim Bank, Bank of Industry and CBN.

“I discovered a window, through the present minister of agriculture that there was fund available for agricultural development programme. This I introduced to Akume that with all his asset around, he could obtain N5bn loan and invest in business. But he told me he did not have capacity to run business, so can he blame me for that?

“Akume was a governor for eight years and he stole N2billion before he left office; up till now, the case is with the EFCC  but because he is in the APC, nothing is happening of the case.

“That’s the reason why I said the EFCC was a tool of the APC, if not, Akume is supposed to be in jail now,” he said.