The Benue State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to extend its investigation into an alleged N200 billion financial scandal in the state to Governor Hyacinth Alia.
The opposition party said the governor should not be shielded from scrutiny if investigations establish that he had knowledge of, or played any role in, the transactions under investigation.
The call followed reports that four senior officials of the Alia administration had been detained and questioned by the EFCC over alleged financial irregularities involving public funds.
In a statement issued in Makurdi by its Publicity Secretary, Bright Antyo, the PDP described the allegations as a matter of serious public concern and demanded a thorough, independent and transparent investigation into the transactions and everyone who might have been involved.
The party alleged that the transactions under investigation involved contract inflation, diversion and misappropriation of public funds, claiming that some of the activities were carried out on the governor’s directives.
It urged the EFCC to establish the circumstances surrounding the alleged financial dealings and determine whether Alia had any knowledge of, or involvement in, the transactions.
According to the PDP, the governor could not exercise extensive control over the state’s financial operations and then distance himself from allegations of misconduct arising from activities under his administration.
The party recalled that since assuming office on May 29, 2023, Alia had allegedly centralised the state’s financial operations by locking government accounts and concentrating financial authority within his administration.
It argued that the reported involvement of senior government officials in the EFCC investigation raised questions about the approval, release, expenditure and accountability of public funds.
“The question Benue people are asking is simple: If the Governor has exercised such extensive control over the state’s finances, who should take responsibility for explaining the whereabouts of N200 billion in public funds?” the statement asked.
The PDP also questioned whether the contracts and payments being investigated were approved without the governor’s knowledge, urging him to clarify his role in the financial decisions of his administration.
It described as unacceptable the reported detention of four senior officials over allegations involving public funds while the governor had yet to publicly address the matter.
The opposition party insisted that the EFCC must be allowed to conduct its investigation independently, professionally and without political interference, stressing that the state’s treasury belongs to the people.
On the issue of constitutional immunity, the PDP argued that Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution does not prevent anti-corruption agencies from investigating allegations of financial misconduct involving a sitting governor.
It noted that although the provision protects an incumbent governor from civil and criminal proceedings, arrest and imprisonment while in office, it does not place the office holder beyond investigation.
The party maintained that investigation and prosecution were separate legal processes, insisting that constitutional immunity should not be used as a reason to avoid scrutiny by legally empowered agencies.
It added that where investigations establish sufficient evidence of wrongdoing, appropriate legal action could be taken when the constitutional immunity ceases to apply.
The PDP consequently urged Alia to address the people of Benue State on the reported N200 billion scandal and explain the circumstances surrounding the detention of the four senior officials.
It also demanded clarification on his alleged involvement in the transactions, including whether he authorised any of the expenditures being questioned.
The party further called on the state government to make relevant details of the contracts, payments and financial transactions implicated in the allegations public, subject to the requirements of the ongoing investigation.
It urged the governor to cooperate fully with investigators, ensure that no government official obstructed the process and provide a comprehensive account of funds received and expended by his administration since May 2023.
The PDP said the investigation should not be limited to officials who executed the financial transactions but should also establish the responsibility of those who approved or authorised them.
“Benue State is not the personal estate of Governor Alia, and its treasury is not his private account. Every naira belongs to the people and must be accounted for,” the statement declared.
The party maintained that public office was a position of trust, not a shield against accountability, and urged the EFCC to ensure that anyone found culpable was held accountable in accordance with the law.
