A Benue State High Court, has restrained the Commission of inquiry into the funds(income and expenditure) of the Benue State Government from May 29th, 2015 to May 28th, 2023, from sitting, pending the hearing and determination of a motion on notice filed by the immediate past Governor of the State Samuel Ortom.
Justice T. T Asua gave the order while ruling on a motion ex-parte seeking leave of court to issue the perogative Writ of Prohibition on the Benue State income and expenditure commission of inquiry from sitting or taking any action in respect of the terms of reference
Counsel to Ortom, Oba Maduabuchi, told the court that the grounds of the application are that, the Auditor General is imbued with powers under the 1999 Constitution(as amended) to investigate and probe the finances of the state.
According to Ortom’s counsel, the Auditor General had already investigated, probed, audited and certified the accounts of the Benue State Government and had submitted his reports to the Benue State House of Assembly as authorized by the 1999 constitution(as amended).
He stated that the Benue State House of Assembly has also acted on the said report of the Auditor General, as also authorized by the constitution and all the terms of reference listed in paragraph 3(a)-(o)of the Benue State Gazette No. 17,Vol.49 of 27th February, 2024, have already been investigated and probed by the Auditor General, who wrote reports and submitted same to the State Assembly, which also acted on them.
He also said the report of the Auditor General was published in several Benue State Gazettes, which are public documents.
Maduabuchi emphasized that in view of these facts, the Governor of Benue State lacks the powers to constitute the income and expenditure commission and the commison lacks the jurisdiction to sit and investigate matters listed as items in the gazette and the action of the governor which he says constitutes a gross abuse of office and smacks of vendetta.
Justice T. T Asua, granted the motion as prayed.
He stated that the applicant has shown sufficient interest in the matter to warrant a grant of the leave sought, adding that the motion of notice shall be entered for hearing within 14 days after the grant of leave, pursuant to Order 40,Rule 5(4) of the Rules of the Court and further restrained the commission of Inquiry from taking further steps in respect of the matter to which the application relates until the motion on notice is heard and determined.
In February this year, Governor Hyacinth Alia set up two separate panels to probe the management of the state’s finances and assets under the immediate past administration.
Editor: Oloyede Oworu
