Former Benue Governor, Samuel Ortom, and his deputy Benson Abounu, have taken legal action against the state government.
Ortom and Abounu filed a suit at a High Court in Makurdi against the Assets Recovery Committee set up by Governor Hyacinth Alia.
They want the court to determine whether the property allocated to them as entitlements and remuneration could still be considered as government assets.
The defendants are Governor Alia, Chairman of the Recovery Committee, Hingah Biem, as well as the members.
Suit No: MHC/199/2023 filed by Barrister Douglas Pepe relied on Sections 5(2), 44, 318(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
The plaintiffs are seeking a determination of “whether or not the governor of Benue State is not bound by the constitutional approvals made by his predecessor.”
They want the court to rule against the actions of the 1st and 2nd defendants and to affirm the decisions taken by the plaintiffs and the executive council before May 29, 2023.
Ortom and Abounu are also seeking an order restraining the defendants and their agents from violating their rights to own property vested on them by the Benue government.
The court is expected to fix a date for the hearing of the suit.
