The Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, on Wednesday told the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to first probe the usage of Security Vote by President Muhammadu Buhari before beaming the searchlight on him.
Ortom said this on Wednesday when he spoke with newsmen after a statewide broadcast.
He said he had never heard of where security vote was investigated before now.
Ortom told newsmen: “Why am I being investigated by the EFCC?
“My records are there.
“But so far, I am the only governor in Nigeria whose security vote is being investigated by the EFCC.
“How can you single me out of 36 (governors) for investigation?
“It (security vote) is not something that any government will begin to disclose.
“Why should Benue’s case be different if not persecution?
“If the EFCC wanted a genuine investigation of security vote spending, they should have started from the Presidency and across the 36 states.
“If their focus was on Benue State, they should have started from 1999.
“But this is not the case.
“With the enormous security challenges in the state since my assumption of office, it is surprising that any one would expect me to do nothing but keep the security vote in the safe.
“The security vote spending being investigated spans from 2015 to 2018, a period of grave security challenges in the state.
“I reiterate that the investigation is a clear case of persecution.
“I have not misappropriated, diverted or stolen any money.
“I have nothing to hide.
“I assure that the investigators can find nothing incriminating against me.”
The EFCC had on Monday released details of an alleged N23.08 billion fraud against Ortom.
It accused the governor of withdrawing over N500 million in one day at N10 million per transaction.
It also said Ortom gave a member of the Boko Haram sect N80 million.
On the impeachment move against him, Ortom said it was illegal.
He said the people behind his impeachment had plotted another move to destabilise the state.
The plan he said was to unleash Fulani militia on the state.
He said strange herdsmen and 10,000 cows had already invaded his country home, Guma, and local government area.
Ortom said his council Chairman, Anthony Shawon, gave him the information.
He said: “Having failed to achieve their anti-Benue objectives, the next phase is the unleashing of Fulani militia.
“I have been told that after the Operation Whirl Stroke succeeded in chasing away the herdsmen, they have started moving into Guma again as of yesterday.
“I have already informed the Commander of OPWS and I hope security agencies will take up the matter
“I believe Mr. President is not aware of happenings in the state but I expect him to caution the Inspector-General of Police (Ibrahim Idris) and the Director General of the DSS (Department of State Services, Lawal Daura).”
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