By Peter Duru

MAKURDI—The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Benue State has accused Governor Samuel Ortom’s government of forcibly taking over the Makurdi residence of his predecessor, Gabriel Suswam, despite a pending action before the courts.

In a statement signed by its publicity secretary, Bemgba Iortyom  in Makurdi, the party had alleged that Suswam purchased the said property, Atom Kpera Lodge, located in Makurdi, which served as his private residence, from the state government during the then Governor George Akume’s administration.

In a swift reaction, however, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in the state, Mr Michael Gusa, debunked the allegation, insisting that the property in question belonged to the state government.

In a statement issued through the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Terver Akase, he explained: “It was the decision of the State Executive Council to revoke the allocation of the said lodge after discovering that it was allotted illegally as due process was not followed.

“The Executive Council discovered that the former governor misused his powers and allocated the government lodge to himself before necessary application was tendered for processing.

‘’The Council, therefore, directed its revocation and taking over accordingly.”