Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has demanded the Financial Intelligence Unit, (NFIU), a federal government agency, to tender an unreserved apology to Governors for branding them as thieves.
Ortom made the demand on Wednesday, at the Government House, Makurdi, while reacting to the financial autonomy granted to local governments recently by the agency.
Gov. Ortom, who stated that the agency was overstepping its constitutional bounds, urge President Muhammafu Buhari to call them to order threatening that if nothing was done, the governors would take legal action.
“We have made our positions known as Governors of Nigeria. Democracy is anchored on the rule of law. Without the law, none of us will exist and function well.
“Agents of the federal government should be cautioned not to be giving unilateral directives.
“We have spoken to Mr. President and he is not aware of this directive that was given to the local governments. We have spoken to the Central Bank and they told us that they are not aware.”
Ortom cautioned that people should not ascribe to themselves powers that do not belong to them just to make a name.
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He said the law was clear that local governments shall he governed by laws made by the State House of Assembly.
“The law is clear on that and we have complied with it. So the NFIU has no right to give those directives. We expect that as an agent of government, it would have invited us to discuss it. But they didn’t.
“And to group all states and say Governors are criminals, crooks, thieves, is a logical fallacy. The fact that it is happening in state A or B does not mean it is happening in Benue state.
Gov. Ortom, stated that he had not tampered with any local government fund since assuming office. “So why do you label me as a thief. I think we need an apology from this agency.
“Branding us as criminals is not good and as I talk to you, we have sent a letter to Mr president to call the agency to order and if that doesn’t take place , we are going to court.
“This is not because we want to maintain authority over LG funds, but because, we want the Nigerian constitution to be obeyed.
“You cannot begin to give such directive except the constitution allows it and if there is going to be an amendment, it has to be legislated upon by the national assembly,” he added.
