JUST IN: Wike’s Ally Ortom Wins Appeal Court Battle

The Court of Appeal, Makurdi Division, has overturned the ruling of the Benue State High Court, which had dismissed the suit filed by the immediate past governor of Benue State, Chief Samuel Ortom, challenging the probe panel set up by Governor Hyacinth Alia. POLITICS NIGERIA reports that Ortom, a former governor of Benue State is an ally of Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. The probe panels were established in February 2024 to investigate the management of the state’s finances and assets during Ortom’s administration. Ortom argued that the Auditor-General had already audited the accounts and submitted the report to the Benue State House of Assembly, as required by the 1999 Constitution. He also contended that reporting the financial situation to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) made the probe panels unnecessary. The Court of Appeal’s unanimous decision, led by Justice Biobele Abraham Georgewill, set aside the ruling of the Makurdi High Court and restored Ortom’s suit to be heard and determined on its merit. The appellate court also granted Ortom’s motion for an extension of time to file his case out of time. The case will now be reassigned to a judge other than Hon. Justice T.T. Asua for hearing and determination on merit.