Former Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has accused the administration of his successor, Governor Hyacinth Alia, of seizing 23 vehicles that were allocated to him upon his exit from office.
Ortom alleged that the current administration is specifically targeting him and other political opponents through the recovery of these assets. He stated that the move is not an administrative correction but a politically motivated attempt to undermine his influence in the state.
To contest the government’s actions, the former governor has initiated legal proceedings. Ortom has vowed to reject the seizure through the courts, asserting that the vehicles were rightfully his under the terms of his previous administration.
Political tensions in Benue State
The former governor detailed the seizure of 23 vehicles allocated to him as part of a wider effort to target his political circle, marking a deepening rift between the former and current leadership of Benue State. Since the transition of power, the relationship between the Ortom-led administration and the Alia-led government has been defined by mutual suspicion and public disagreements.
The vehicles in question form part of a broader dispute over the assets and resources handed over during the change of government. In many Nigerian states, the handover period is often fraught with tension as incoming administrations conduct audits to identify what they term as misappropriated state property, while outgoing officials claim certain assets are personal or legally allocated entitlements.
Ortom has maintained that the vehicles were part of the official allocation meant to facilitate his transition and support his post-office requirements. By classifying the seizure as a targeted attack, the former governor is positioning the legal battle as a fight against political persecution rather than a simple administrative dispute.
The Alia administration has not yet released a formal statement addressing the specific allegations of targeting political opponents through this vehicle seizure. However, the current government has previously emphasised its commitment to ensuring that all state assets are properly accounted for and returned to the treasury.
The outcome of this legal challenge will likely set a precedent for how asset transitions are managed in Benue State and could influence how future political transitions are handled in the region. The matter remains pending as Ortom’s legal team prepares to present their case before the court.
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