By Paul Aondoakaa 

Former Benue governor Samuel Ortom says 23 vehicles allocated to him after leaving office were seized by the Alia administration and that a court later ordered their return and awarded him ₦5 million in damages.

Former Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has accused the administration of Governor Hyacinth Alia of using state power to target political opponents, alleging that 23 vehicles legitimately allocated to him were seized after he left office.

Ortom made the allegations on Tuesday morning while appearing as a guest on Arise News.

According to the former governor, the vehicles were taken without prior communication to him. He said he subsequently challenged the action in court and secured a judgment against the government.

“As I talked to you, after I left office, vehicles that were given to me legitimately by government, this government went and seized them in a manner that was not befitting,” Ortom said.

“No communication to me was done. I went to court and we defeated government.”

Ortom claimed that the court ordered the government to return the 23 vehicles and awarded him ₦5 million in damages.

The former governor presented the alleged court outcome as part of a broader argument that the current administration has not adequately respected the rule of law.

“You will recall that democracy is anchored on the rule of law. And that is what defines democracy,” he said.

The vehicle dispute

The controversy over government vehicles dates back to the early months of the Alia administration.

After taking office in 2023, Governor Alia established a committee to recover government assets allegedly removed from state control during the previous administration.

The committee was mandated to trace state-owned vehicles, land, houses, furniture and other government property.

In July 2023, more than 30 vehicles and Hilux vans were reportedly seized from an automobile workshop along the Makurdi-Otukpo Road. The exercise became a source of political tension between the new administration and officials and associates of Ortom.

The recovery exercise also resulted in legal disputes.

In one related case, businessman Emmanuel Viashima sued the Benue State Government, Governor Alia and other officials, alleging that 32 vehicles removed from his premises did not belong to Ortom. He sought ₦5 billion in damages.

Ortom's latest account, however, relates specifically to 23 vehicles which he says were legitimately allocated to him.

What the former governor alleged

Beyond the vehicle dispute, Ortom accused the Alia administration of what he described as “witch-hunting” political opponents and critics.

He also alleged that government supporters had attacked elders and statesmen who criticised the administration.

“Another incident of a no-Alia, no-Benue,” Ortom said.

He further alleged that the administration had failed to convene a broad-based stakeholders' meeting involving political parties since taking office.

However, these remain allegations made by the former governor and have not been independently established by Benue Info-pedia.

What the government says

The Alia administration's position on Ortom's latest allegations is important to establishing the full picture.

Benue Info-pedia is seeking the response of the Benue State Government and Governor Alia's media team, particularly on the alleged court judgment, the 23 vehicles and the claimed ₦5 million damages.

The administration has previously defended its asset-recovery exercise as an effort to recover government property allegedly removed from state control.

The governor has also continued to engage traditional rulers, community leaders and political stakeholders across the state, including during recent engagements and political tours.

What happens next?

The key question is what the court record actually says about the 23 vehicles and the alleged damages.

Benue Info-pedia will seek to establish the case number, court, judgment date, orders made by the court and whether the decision has been appealed or otherwise challenged.

Until those records are independently examined, Ortom's account remains an allegation based on his description of the court proceedings.

The dispute nevertheless highlights a continuing political and legal confrontation between the former governor and his successor — one that could benefit from greater clarity through the public court record.