THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has detained senior officials of the Benue State Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, alongside some consultants, over an alleged ₦4.6bn fraud linked to funds meant for local government councils in the state.
Sources said the officials were arrested about a week ago and are currently being held at the EFCC zonal office in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, as investigations continue into the alleged diversion of the funds.
Preliminary findings indicate that the ₦4.6bn was allegedly siphoned through consultants under the pretext of consultancy fees for auditing local government staff, pensioners and Primary Healthcare personnel across the state’s 23 local government areas.
It was also gathered that all 23 local government chairmen have been invited by the anti-graft agency to explain their roles in the matter, while Directors of General Services and council treasurers have already been interrogated.
Confirming the probe, a local government chairman who spoke on condition of anonymity said the EFCC was investigating consultancy fees allegedly amounting to ₦4.6bn.
He explained that the decision to audit the local governments was jointly taken to address irregularities inherited by the current administration.
According to him, the consultants were engaged to audit council staff, pensioners, Primary Healthcare workers and employees of the Local Government Education Authorities, adding that the audit began about two weeks ago and was still ongoing in several councils.
He noted that consultancy fees varied based on the workload in each local government.
The chairman cautioned against politicising the investigation, describing it as a routine EFCC inquiry, and commended the commission for what he described as its professional conduct.
Also confirming the development, the Benue State Commissioner for Finance, Michael Oglegba, said the state government would not interfere with the EFCC’s investigation, stressing that the administration had zero tolerance for corruption.
Oglegba said while payments were made for the audit process, the investigation would determine whether due process was followed.
He added that the government was fully cooperating with the anti-graft agency and that the findings would be made public upon conclusion of the probe.
He further warned public officials to adhere strictly to due process, noting that Governor Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia was committed to transparency and accountability in governance.
As of the time of filing this report, the detained officials were said to be processing their bail.