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Tag: Samuel Ortom

  • Court orders publisher to pay Ortom N5m for libel on facebook

    Court orders publisher to pay Ortom N5m for libel on facebook

    A Makurdi High Court presided over by Justice Adam Onum has ordered the publisher of Nigerian Concord, Mr Aare Abiodun Oluwarotimi to pay N5 million to  Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, as damages for libel.

    Delivering judgement in a case instituted by the Governor, Justice Onum also ordered the publisher to retract the libelous publications in national newspapers, television, radio as well as social media platforms.

    The Governor had demanded N10 billion for damages.

    Speaking with newsmen after the judgement, the Governor’s lawyer, Mr Andrew Wombo, expressed satisfaction with the judgment and pledged that he would take legal steps to enforce it.

    He stated that the objective of the case was to prove to the entire world that Mr Oluwarotimi’s publications against the office and person of the Governor were false, fabricated and mischievous.

    Barrister Wombo stated that although the motive for instituting the case were not for financial benefit, he would make sure the defendant pays the money as a deterrent against those bent on publishing falsehood against the Governor.

    Throughout the proceedings Mr Oluwarotimi failed to appear in court and was not represented by any defence counsel.

    Court processes were however served on him through substituted means in Daily Trust, The Nation newspapers as well as on his Facebook page.

    Read Also: Dickson consoles Tinubu over son’s death   

     

  • Tiv community under attacks over anti-open grazing law

    Tiv community under attacks over anti-open grazing law

    Tiv inhabitants living at the bank of River Benue in Tombo ward, Gaambetiev, Logo local government area in Benue have fled their homes over attacked by suspected fulani herdsmen.

    The Fulani herdsmen who many in numbers together with their cattle have taken refuge in island in River Benue that divided Logo and Guma local government areas.

    A statement from the head of Tse-Dzungwe community in Mbakoya, Mbaiwen, Chief Akijo Uja told The Nation that the herdsmen who are heavily armed have been shooting sporadically into the air from their hide out in the River since the November 1, when anti- open grazing law began.

    Chief Uja said the herdsmen have vowed that if they are not allowed to graze, no farmer would go the farm .

    He said as a result of the activities of the dreaded herdsmen, all the Tiv villages in his domain have been deserted .

    ‘This is harvest season and my people have abandoned their crops for fear of being killed by Fulani herdsmen ” said Uja.

    According to him since 2011 his community have been under series of  fulani attacked as they destroyed houses, killed people and set yam barns ablaze every year”.

    The community leader mentioned the names of the villages deserted as Tse Dzungwe, Tse Ibor, Azege Mbaya, Anyone , Tse Gbeleve and adjoining settlements .

    He appealed to Governor Samuel Ortom to deployed security to the area to protect them .

    Meanwhile Governor Samuel  Ortom has procured  19 Pick up vans and 100 motor cycle to enhnance the moment of security men who are to enforced the anti open grazing prohibited law.

    The Governor said the official presentation would be made next week Monday.

  • Libel: Court orders publisher to pay Ortom N5m

    Libel: Court orders publisher to pay Ortom N5m

    A Makurdi High Court presided over by Justice Adam Onum has ordered the publisher of Nigerian Concord, Mr Aare Abiodun Oluwarotimi to pay N5 million to Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, as damages for libel.

    Delivering judgement in a case instituted by the Governor, Justice Onum also ordered the publisher to retract the libelous publications in national newspapers, television, radio as well as social media platforms
    The Governor had demanded N10 billion for damages.

    Speaking with newsmen after the judgement, the Governor’s lawyer, Mr Andrew Wombo, expressed satisfaction with the judgment and pledged that he would take legal steps to enforce it.

    He stated that the objective of the case was to prove to the entire world that Mr Oluwarotimi’s publications against the office and person of the Governor were false, fabricated and mischievous.

    Barrister Wombo stated that although the motive for instituting the case was not for a financial benefit he would make sure the defendant pays the money as a deterrent against those bent on publishing falsehood against the Governor.

    Throughout the proceedings, Mr Oluwarotimi failed to appear in court and was not represented by any defence counsel.

    Court processes were however served on him through substituted means in Daily Trust, The Nation newspapers as well as on his Facebook page.

  • Anti-grazing law: Ortom warns traditional rulers

    Anti-grazing law: Ortom warns traditional rulers

    Benue state governor, Samuel Ortom, has said traditional rulers found to be constituting themselves into criminal elements to frustrate the implementation of the anti-open  grazing law would be removed from office.

    Speaking while inaugurating local government committees for the implementation of the law yesterday at Benue People’s House, Governor Ortom said traditional rulers are expected to facilitate easy implementation of the law in their various domains.

    While emphasizing that the law protects both herdsmen and farmers, he warned that any one who rustles cattle would face the law just as any person  that trespasses into farms with livestock would be prosecuted accordingly.

    The governor said herdsmen that have been staying in Benue should not allow foreigners to come in and noted that the authorities can manage the  indigenous Fulani and their livestock.

    Governor Ortom further stated that the Fulani that can speak Idoma, Tiv and other languages should prevent foreigners from infiltrating in their own interest and explained that livestock guards are going to be trained to help in the implementation of the law.

    According to him, those skeptical of the law should Give it a chance. He made it clear that those insisting that they must graze their cattle when there is no land for grazing should go to states where there is land for such.

    He recalled that when herdsmen were killing Benue people in hundreds, he did not allow them to arm themselves because violence and chaos would not do good to anybody.

    He maintained that the people depend on farming now that salary payment is a problem and urged livestock owners, farmers and other stakeholders to  key into ranching like the Federal Government.

    Ortom made herdsmen who also attended the inauguration in large numbers to understand that cattle rearing is business just  like farming.

    Special adviser to the governor on security, Col Edwin Jando, in a remark, said a census of the Fulani  in Benue was being taken and added that six pilot ranches would be established.

    Jando said such ranches would have clinics, bore holes, police posts and other facilities and urged herdsmen in the various villages to liaise with such communities to establish ranches where they can get cheap food for their cows and themselves.

  • Ortom seeks arrest of Meyetti Allah leaders in Benue 

    Ortom seeks arrest of Meyetti Allah leaders in Benue 

    …Briefs Buhari on security situation in Benue

     

    Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, on Tuesday called for the arrest of leadership of Meyetti Allah group in the state.

    The group is opposed to the Anti-Open Grazing Act expected to come in force on the 1st of November, 2017.

    Speaking with State House correspondences after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Ortom said that the leadership is posing a threat to lives and properties in the state.

    He said “I came to brief and Mr. President about the security situation in my state, about the threat about Meyetti Allah that have even taken us to court. The threat that they will make the Anti-Open Grazing Act impossible for the people of Bennie State. I intimated him and also generally the security situation in the state.

    “Commonalities we have brought it to its nearest minimum and we believe that the security agencies that are working with us will sustain the tempo. We will do everything to provide security to protect lives and property.

    “Well, I am a law abiding citizen and a governor, Benue people are law abiding that is why in the midst of the provocation from herdsmen attack, we took time to ensure that we put the law in place, sign it and we are going to start implementation 1st of November and we hope that people will comply.

    “And everyone in Benue State should appreciate the fact that it is the law that is giving us protection. It is the intention of this government to ensure that we give protection to lives and property through the rule of law.

    “So, anyone staying in Benue State must comply. One thing I must say is that the law protects herdsmen and farmers. We are against cattle rustling; those who are caught will be penalized. Those who want to stay in Benue State and do cattle business must ranch their cattles, this is what we are saying.

    “As far as we are concern, the law is not targeted at any individual, group of people of ethnic group, it is meant to protect everyone who is living in Benue State.” he said

    Stressing that Meyetti Allah has taken the government to court, he said that it is not possible for Meyetti Allah to overrun Benue and make it ungovernable.

    He added “It is not going to be accepted. We stand by what we have done, we have done our legitimate, lawful role as governor as citizens of the state, so, we don’t see how somebody will sit somewhere and say that we should not implement a law that has restored peace in our place.

    “If you want to bring confusion I want to assure you that I have directed the security men to arrest those people. I am calling for the arrest of the leadership of Meyetti Allah, to be prosecuted to serve as a deterrent.

    “We have for a long time celebrated impunity in this country, we cannot continue like that. And so if they come out with this kind of threat, the evidence are there, they did a world press conference, so what is the security agencies doing? These people must be penalized.” he said

    According to him, there is enough land in the state for ranching of cattles.

    “Those who want to apply to get land to ranch they should do it, there are couple of ranches around. We are also going to provide land in designated places in the three senatorial zones, these have been approved by the state executive council and as many that are interested in having these ranches, we will give them the land.” he stated

    The governor said that he also briefed the President about the ecological problem in Benue State and his major challenge of salaries payment.

    According to him, it was not intentional that salaries are being owed.

    “It is not deliberate and we have not diverted money whether bail out or Paris club anywhere, the records are there for anyone to scrutinize and see.

    “The situation is that I inherited N69 billion arrears on pensions, gratuities and salaries. Then over N70 billion contractual obligations and so it has been a huge burden on our finances and so Mr. President too has promised to find ways that the state can also get support.

    On measures being taken to stop corruption in the state’s wage bill, he said “The issue is that we must admit that Benue State Wage Bill is one of the highest in this country, N7.8 billion. My predecessor admitted that there was mistake in negotiating with them but they resisted attempts to bring it down, now we have no choice.

    “We have said it especially when the leadership of the labour congress came and we dialogue and we have set up technical committees comprising technical team from labour congress and technical team from my government, they will look at it and review wage bill and ensure that leakages are eliminated, salary padding and ghost workers and all that.

    “I want to assure you that we are going to prosecute anyone who is found culpable in the salary inflation. Honestly, N7.8 billion wage bill for Benue State is out of place and there is no way we will continue in this manner.

    “I and my council, we have looked at the wage bill and compare with what people are collecting elsewhere in the country and we have done to an average of N4.5 billion that we just have to review it to that. Because an average income for Benue State both from federation account and IGR stands at slightly above N6 billion.

    “So, if you are paying salaries alone you are have a deficit of N1.8 billion a month. It is impossible and we have security issues to tackle and several other things that government must run and so it becomes a big problem.

    “I don’t have problems with my workers because they understood it, we are transparent, everybody has seen what we are doing but we have to find a way around it. I can assure you that in the next few weeks that is what we are working on and by the grace of God we will come to a reasonable figure that we will be able to pay salaries as at when due.” he said

    He added “I came to appreciate the President him and to encourage him to be steadfast and committed to his leadership. I believe that what God brought him to achieve in this country, he will definitely achieve it. Now we see him bouncing every day to the glory of God. We appreciate this and we look forward that God will help him to take us through 2015 to 2019 and then 2019 to 2023.

    “That is our prayer because for now, there is no credible candidate as far as I know that has the capacity to take Nigeria out of where we are today. I believe Mr. President has the capacity and let God sustain his health and consummate his healing so that Nigeria can be on the right path,” he said.

  • My govt has failed workers – Ortom

    My govt has failed workers – Ortom

    Benue governor Samuel Ortom admitted on Monday that his government had failed in its responsibility of paying workers salaries.

    “A worker deserves his wages, but the Benue government has not been able to fulfill that obligation. We have failed the workers in this regard,” Ortom said in Makurdi, after meeting with national leaders of organised labour.

    He, however, said that factors responsible for the inability of the state government to pay salaries were beyond it.

    “Government is worried by its inability to pay workers and has constituted a Joint Technical Committee, comprising civil servants and government officials, to look into the issues surrounding the inability to pay salaries.

    “The committee will also work toward bringing down Benue’s high wage bill of N7.8 billion,” he said.

    Mr Ayuba Wabba, National President of the Nigeria Labour Congress ( NLC ), who also spoke with newsmen after the meeting, said that the state government had made offers toward addressing the industrial action embarked upon by the state workers.

    Wabba advised government to plug loopholes that had pushed up the state’s wage bill which he said was “too high”.

    Wabba and Ortom, however, refused to disclose the offers made by the government.

    NAN

  • CAN, JNI should be scrapped – Catholic Priest

    CAN, JNI should be scrapped – Catholic Priest

    A Catholic Priest, Rev. Father Gabriel Teruwose Ngbea has asked the government to immediately ban the activities of religious umbrella bodies like the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) as a way of stemming the tide of the religiously motivated crisis in the country. 

    The priest’s suggestion is coming just as Benue state governor, Samuel Ortom said the major problems facing the country can be traced to religion and politics, saying if the nation can get its religious and political practices right, the nation will be great again.

    Rev. Father Ngbea’s suggestion is contained in his book “Constitutional Misconception of Secularism: Implications for Politics and Religion” which was presented in Abuja on Tuesday. 

    He said that the government should replace the two bodies with an independent body to be known as “Religious Equity Commission” whose mandate should be to ensure that there is no discrimination among Nigerians on the basis of their faith. 

    Father Ngbea said on page 302 of his book that “CAN and JNI should be proscribed because apart from their failed mandate of advancing religious interests these bodies have constituted themselves into a political organisation often deployed to pursue political interests.” 

    According to him, in order to keep faith with section 20 of the Nigerian constitution and to ensure that Nigerians practiced their faith in a manner that is devoid of discrimination he is proposing  “the establishment of an independent Religious Equity Commission whose mandate should be to ensure that there is no discrimination among Nigerians on basis of faith. CAN and JNI should be completely banned in the country.” 

    Chairman of the occasion and former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, however, cautioned Nigerians to be mindful of others who may not think, act or believe in what they do, saying the country’s diversity ought to be her strength and not otherwise. 

    Atiku said the first country’s national constitution carefully considered the diverse character as a nation and chose the secular path in order to accommodate the diversity and peaceful coexistence. 

    Represented by the former Speaker of the Plateau state House of Assembly, George Daika, the former Vice President said: “Let me, however, use this opportunity to remind us all that at this delicate moment in our nation’s history – with separatist agitations, militancy of the religious and secular varieties, calls for restructuring, and jostling for future elections, we should all be mindful of and sensitive to the feelings and preferences of those who may not think the way we think, the way we speak or worship, the way we worship or belong to the same political party as us. Our diversity ought to be our strength and, together, we can still build the Nigeria of our dreams.”

    Benue state governor, Samuel Ortom, however, said politics and religion have been at the heart of the problems confronting the country, adding that “today in our country, two things are very important, politics and religion and if we can get it right, we will be able to make Nigeria great.”

    He said that both Christianity and Islam all seek to bring love and peace to mankind, adding that it his hope that these two religions will work toward bringing peace and love to the country. 

    The governor, however, blamed organised Labour for employing the blackmail tactics over the payment of workers salaries in addressing the brewing Labour crisis in the state. 

    Archbishop of Abuja Catholic archdiocese, Cardinal John Onaiyekan who was represented by Rev. Father Bologo said that religion and politics have been taken too far in our country and that this has caused a lot of problems for the country. 

    “Nigeria should not have been where it is now but because we are using religion to divide the country and to cause disaffection. Nigeria is 90% on the wrong path as far as religion and politics is concerned,” he said. 

  • Ortom: NLC blackmailing my government

    Ortom: NLC blackmailing my government

    • Says we inherited N69 billion salaries, Pension arrears

    Benue state governor, Samuel Ortom has said that his state inherited arrears of salaries, pensions and gratuity of about N69 billion which the bailout fund and the Paris Club refund has not been able to clear, accusing the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) at the national level of blackmailing his government and inciting workers in the state to embark on strike.

    Ortom who spoke at a book launch in Abuja said his state was paying the highest salary to its workers in the country and challenge the leadership of labour to contradict his claim by coming out with superior facts.

    He also challenge the leaders of Labour to drag his government to the anti-corruption agencies in the country is they feel that he was not fair to Benue workers in the appropriation of the federal government bailout fund to drag his government to the anti-corruption agencies.

    He insisted that the leadership of Labour should do a comparative analysis of remuneration of Benue workers with other states, insisting that he is paying higher than any other state in the country.

    Governor Ortom said his government was open to dialogue, urging anybody with superior programs to tackle the issue to bring it on the dialogue table.

    “I believe that the discussion is still ongoing. We will still talk even though I feel that we should not be discussing our problems in the media. I have told them to bring the issues on the table because government is ready to put all the figures on the table to anyone to see.

    “It is part of our transparency and accountability. One thing I can assure you is that we have formed a process of working towards it. It is not enough for the leadership of the labour union to incite the workers to go on strike at the National level and Benue state.

    “For me, it is not the best way of unionism and taking care of workers. Benue State has a peculiar problem. We inherited a debt arrears of N69 billion of pension, gratuity and salaries.

    “Now, the intervention from the federal government called Paris Club or bailout as they call even though it is a loan all together could not clear the N69 billion debt arrears. So, the challenge is still there and everybody knows about it.

    “The figures are on the table for everyone to see. For us, Benue is one of the States in the country paying the highest salary as at today I am talking to you. I challenge you to compare your note.

    “In other states where Permanent Secretaries are collecting N230, 000, we are paying N500, 000 because that is what we inherited. We believe in dialogue and discussion and if you have superior programs that can make things better for Benue people bring them on the table for discussion.

    “It is not just enough to go and incite people to go on strike to prove that that government is not paying. They should ask what has been the history. I challenge them to do analysis of what has been on ground.

    “The good thing is that none of the anti-corruption agency can indict us for misappropriation of bailout fund because we have been very transparent. That is where we are now,” he said.

  • Benue bogged down by huge wage bill – Ortom

    Benue bogged down by huge wage bill – Ortom

    The Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, said on Thursday the state government has suspended execution of projects and declared state of emergency on payment of workers’ salaries.

    He said the state has been bogged down by huge wage bill he inherited from the last administration.

    The governor said the state did not mismanage bailout funds and London-Paris Club refunds.

    He said the upward review of workers’ salaries by his predecessor contributed hugely to the fund challenge currently facing the state Civil Service.

    Ortom said as a leader, he was greatly pained that his workers are owed salary arrears in a civil service state.

    He, however, said Camp Commandant of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) at the International Market has been removed over alleged diversion of relief materials for flood victims.

    He said the commandant was currently under investigation.

    Ortom, who made the disclosures in a chat with a select group of journalists in Abuja, said one of the problems facing his administration is the huge wage bill he inherited from the last government.

    He said efforts were being intensified to address the salary challenge as soon as possible.

    Ortom said: “Ideally, wage bill should not take more than 30 percent of your allocation, but today, you pay more than 100 percent because you often forced to borrow. We applied 80 percent of the last Paris Club refund despite the fact that the President said we should apply at least 50 percent. But because of our peculiar challenge, we did needed be done, yet it was not enough.

    “Because of this, all my projects are suspended. We have declared state of emergency on payment of salary by making it a priority.

    “We have challenges and our people must understand this, Nigeria is passing through some difficulties, especially financing and funding the economy of this country. The times are difficult, for instance, in my state, just like many states, I cannot even pay salaries of my workers as and when due.”

    Ortom said although he accepted responsibility as a leader, he will do everything to clear the salary arrears.

    He added: “It is painful but this is something I am responsible for as a leader. I take responsibility because I am the governor today but I’m looking for everything possible under the sun to surmount this. This is because the economy of my state is being driven by the civil service.

    “So, when salary is not paid, an average person in Benue State is affected and that is why we are open to suggestions from everyone on how to surmount the challenge. I say this because when I came in, I inherited N69b arrears in salaries, pensions and gratuities.

    “The Federal government did intervene by giving us a loan, which is the bailout fund of N28b. We appropriated it very well and because of the screening approach we adopted, out of N12.5b that was allocated to the state service, we are able to save N1.6b which we injected back into the treasury.”

     

  • Benue not part of secessionist agitation

    Benue not part of secessionist agitation

    Benue Governor Samuel Ortom said on Monday that the state was committed to building a strong and indivisible Nigerian nation and would never support any secessionist agitation.

    Ortom, who spoke at a meeting with Benue Council of Chiefs, also restated government’s readiness to protect the rights of Nigerians resident in the state, irrespective of their ethnic backgrounds.

    The meeting, held in Makurdi and attended by various stakeholders and the leadership of tribal and religious groups resident in Benue, was a proactive measure against reprisal violence over skirmishes in some parts of the country.

    “Benue is not in support of any secessionist agitation and will not want mischief makers to cause violence in the state. People with such plans are advised to leave in their own interest,” he said.

    Ortom charged traditional rulers and leaders of other ethnic groups to preach the message of peace to their localities, urging them to report trouble makers to the appropriate authorities.

    In his remarks, the Tor Tiv, Prof. James Ayatse, commended the proactive steps of the government toward calming nerves, and expressed the Tiv Traditional Council’s readiness to support the measures.

    Also speaking, the Och’Idoma, Mr Elias Ikoyi Obekpa, said that Benue has remained the most peaceful state in the country and would strive to keep that status.

    The President of South-South residents in the state, Chief Godffery Ogboro, in a remark, said that his people were committed to the promotion of peace and unity in Nigeria.

    “We are committed to peace and unity of Nigeria; we cannot wage war against ourselves.

    ”Some of us have houses here and also married from here. We shall be the greatest losers if there is no peace,” he said.

    Chief Chuks Albert, President, Igbo Assembly, Benue State Chapter, in his speech, condemned the secessionist agenda being pursued by some sections of the Igbo community, declaring that his group was in support of one Nigeria.

    “We stand for one Nigeria; we are not part of the Igbo that want to secede by force. We thank the governor for guaranteeing our peaceful stay in Benue.

    “We have an umbrella community which is Igbo Delegate Assembly; we also have Ohaneze Ndigbo. We have all met and resolved that we belong to one Nigeria,” he said.