BENUE State governor, Mr Gabriel Suswam, on Sunday, disclosed that he could not pursue a refund of over N635 million, being cost of mobilisation paid to a company belonging to Dr Doyin Okupe, Senior Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on Public Affairs, for the execution of road contracts in the state.

Suswam said much as he would have loved to go after Okupe’s company and retrieve the money, so as to rectify the looting of state funds, he was hindered by the fact that his predecessor, Mr George Akume, now Senate Minority leader, left no handover note while leaving office in 2007.

This is just as Okupe’s lawyers, in a release made available to the Nigerian Tribune on Sunday, denied media reports that companies in which Okupe has substantial interests and served as chairman ran away with funds paid as mobilisations for road construction in Benue and Imo states between 2004 and 2005.

The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) had severely criticised Okupe as being unworthy of the position given him by President Jonathan, because of the alleged baggage of corruption hanging on his neck, following which he was sacked by former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.

Governor Suswam made the disclosure while fielding questions from newsmen at the palace of the Ochidoma, Ekoyi Odepa, in Otukpo, during a condolence visit to the paramount ruler on the communal clash that claimed many lives in his domain, at the weekend.

“There is nothing I can do, because I did not have a handing over note. I have told you people several times that my predecessor (Akume) did not hand over anything to me.

“I agree with you that the money is a huge one, but what Akume said through his aide indicates that the problem arose with them and that they are handling it,” he said.

But Okupe’s lawyer, Mr Yemi Gbonegun, though confirmed that Okupe’s companies were awarded contracts for rural road construction, said Benue State government would have gone to court if the companies truly ran away with government funds paid as mobilisation fee.

“We confirm that in both contracts, the companies went far beyond the issue of mobilisation. In fact, the companies received other payments over a period exceeding two years continuously for work done that went far beyond the level of mobilisation.

“Disputes about certificates of payment arose in the matters of these contracts, as it is not unusual between a contractor and its employers.

“These issues were, at different times, thoroughly investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commissions (EFCC). At no point in time was a case of fraud or any criminality whatsoever found against any of the companies. Otherwise, the EFCC would have since taken the matters to court,” the lawyer said.

Comments (3)

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THE GOVERNOR CAN STILL DO SOMETHING
written by OVISKY, August 20, 2012

Even if his predecessor did not give him hand over note, d present governor can still trace the transaction of the project through the state's ministry of works. There must be records somewhere about the project if the Governor really cares to recover the money

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i do not expect less
written by laoyefemi, August 20, 2012

as long as okupe is already in GEJ government ,one is sure that his immunity is as sure as that of the devil. the governor has covered him by slighting his predecessor , he needs the support of the presidency hence he has to say what he just said. even if their is no hand over note why can he not set up a panel to investigate the matter and help retrieve the money from him.

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written by osukporu, August 21, 2012

As for Goodluck, he just give post and positions at will. I do not know much about him in person, but his people are known for eccessive use of ogogoro! Of what use is this large entourage called advisers to Nigerians other than a colosus waste? What is happening in Nigeria does not and cannot happen in proper countries except in junggles like Nigeria

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