Rose Ejembi, Makurdi
The Benue State Government has warned that it would not take it lightly if anything happens to the N14.9 billion Paris Club refund that was released to the state and later recalled by the Federal Government.
A statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Samuel Ortom, Terver Akase, said the state government is aware of the rumour making the rounds about the disappearance of the sum of N4 billion from the 14.9 billion.
“We have heard the rumour about a certain N4 billion ‘disappearing’ from the N14.9 billion final tranche of the Paris Club refund to Benue State which the Federal Government later recalled from the state bank account, and we want to warn.
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“We hope that the rumour remains a mere rumour. Nothing must happen to the N14.9 billion the Federal Government recalled from Benue State accounts.
“If this is a ploy to sell a dummy to the people and later take away the said amount of N4 billion, those selling the dummy had better changed tactics for their game plan has already failed. We will accept nothing less than the N14.9 billion back to the state accounts!
“Agents of such rumours should be told that the Benue State Ministry of Finance received withdrawal notification ( bank alert) the very minute the N14.9 billion was taken out of the state accounts by the Federal Government.
“So, anyone hoping to play games with the government and people of the state needs to come up with another gimmick.
“What we do know is that Benue’s N14.9 billion final tranche of the Paris Club refund is intact in the custody of the Federal Government and will soon be returned to the state,” Akase assured.
