The immediate-past governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, on Sunday, asked his counterpart in Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, to come out of his hiding and answer his case with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Bello has been having a running issue with the EFCC, which declared him wanted after he failed to show up for arraignment at the Federal High Court in Abuja where the anti-graft agency filed N80.2 billion fraud charges against him.
The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) also placed Bello on a watchlist, ordering that he should be arrested anywhere he was found.
Speaking at a Redeemed Christian Church of God in Makurdi, Benue State during the thanksgiving service organised by his aides for his 63rd birthday celebration, Ortom advised Bello to come out of hiding.
He said Bello’s continued hiding would bring disgrace to former governors across the country.
Ortom said, “I want to use this opportunity to advise my younger brother and friend, Governor Yahaya Bello, not to disgrace former governors.
“You don’t need to hide. You don’t need to resist arrest or anything. Go there and respond. The EFCC (officials) are human beings. If they are making inquiries, the laws are there. I have tried to get him on the phone, but I could not. I have tried those around him but I could not, so I want this to be noted. Wherever he is, if he can hear me, thank God the press is here, he should come out”.
Shortly after leaving office in May 2023, the EFCC had invited Ortom and he visited the Markudi office of the anti-graft agency in June 2023.
Ortom was released to go after being quizzed by EFCC investigators.
The former governor appreciated the people of Benue State for their support of his administration throughout his eight-year tenure and for celebrating him on his birthday.
Ortom described his two terms of office as an uneasy task, as he called on the people to always pray for their leaders.
He expressed appreciation to God for His mercies over his life and family, adding that he left the government house a better Christian.
The former governor urged youths to stop insulting elders on social media and to take advantage of the Internet to add value to their lives and bring development to the state.
“Do not insult the leaders or elders on social media. We all must be part of the process to bring peace so that progress, prosperity and development will come.
“The youth must take advantage of social media to bring development to them and the state”, he said.
