I’m not afraid of senate probe – Ortom

BENUE State governor, Chief Samuel Ortom, has said that he is not afraid of any probe on the utilisation of the N28billion bailout fund.

The governor who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary (CPS),  Mr Terver Akase, against the backdrop of the proposed probe of the bail out by the senate said that his administration welcome investigation into his administration.

Media report has said that Senate is to probe Benue and Osun states over the disbursement of the bailout fund during its sitting on Monday.

But Ortom maintained that “the call by the Senate is apt, it is the responsibility of the legislature to checkmate the executive and we in Benue have nothing to fear because our government is anchored on transparency, accountability and the fear of God.”

He said the state government utilised the bailout funds judiciously and transparently, expressing readiness to account for it anytime.

“We are happy with the call because it affords us the opportunity to tell the whole world how the bailouts fund was transparently utilised by the Governor. The ICPC had investigated the state and did not find anything wrong. As far as I am concerned, there is no known case of any diversion of the bailout funds,” Akase stated.

On claims in some quarters that he (Ortom) is amongst the most travelled governor in the country,  the governor debunked it, averring that unlike in the past, when most governors lived in Abuja and only visited their states, the Governor is always at home attending to issues.

He reiterated that his administration will not shield any of his aides involved in any criminal act, saying “they must answer for act they are found to be involved in.”