Governor Samuel Ortom yesterday inaugurated two commissions of inquiry into the receipt and utilization of funds by the immediate past administration as well as sale and lease of government assets.
In his address at the occasion he disclosed that the objectives of the commissions were not to witch hunt anyone but rather to set the records straight.
According to him the commissions were necessitated by the desire of the electorate to know why the state had come to its present situation.
“We are fully aware that we hold this mandate in trust for the people who desire to know what transpired before we came into office and why the state has been brought to the brink,” Governor Ortom stressed.
“We have already pledged to ensure compliance with the rule of law and due process in the conduct of government business and this will also apply to the work of the commissions.”
According to him “as we inquire into the past, officials of my administration must note that one day their work may also be put under scrutiny hence the need to live above board.”
The Governor who stated that members of the committee were carefully selected based on merit, enjoined them to discharge their duties creditably with the fear of God.He announced that the commissions had six months within which to submit their reports.
The Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the receipt and disbursement of funds has Justice Elizabeth Kpojime as Chairman, Michael Agber, Lead Counsel, and Sekegh Akaa as Secretary with Joe Abaagu, Rev. Professor Francis Wegh, Dr Christopher Ebute and Jacob Mulya as members.
Its terms of reference include identification of all revenue sources and total amount of revenue which accrued to the State from June 2007 to May this year, ascertain how much funds were received from federation account, internally generated revenue, excess crude account, ecological and Sure-P funds.
It is to also ascertain the shares and stock owned by the state government in Dangote Cement Company, Julius Berger, Benue Brewery and other companies, the Millennium Develop Goals, MDG among others.
The sale and lease of government assets Commission of Inquiry has Moses Atagher as Chairman and Andrew Amee, Secretary while Ngutor Anyam, Omale Omale, Professor Moses Ogbaji and Moses Aiki, a representative of Commissioner of Police, as members.
Its terms of reference are to identify all government property sold and leased since June, 2007, determine the status and actual value of such property at the time of sale, identify the purchasers of such property to determine improvement made, review transactions and advise government on the appointments and actions in the interest of the people among others.
In separate responses, Mrs. Elizabeth Kpojime and Moses Atagher both pledged to be upright and transparent in discharging their functions and commended the Governor for finding them worthy for the assignment.