A pro-democracy group known as Defenders of Democracy (DoD), has accused the Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia of sacking his Special Adviser on Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Dennis Akura in order to cover up the scandal of corruption taking place under his administration.
In a statement signed by its President, Comrade Amos Uchiv, DoD urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to beam its search on Governor Alia and his administration and investigate the reported mismanagement of local government funds under the governor.
The statement reads:
“Defenders of Democracy (DoD) yesterday saw a news report which indicated that Governor Hyacinth Alia has sacked his Special Adviser on Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Dennis Akura.
Though the report did not provide details on why Alia sacked his kinsman and replaced him with another one known as Denen Aondoakaa who is also from Alia’s village in Mbadede, our investigation has revealed that the decision of the governor to relieve Akura was to cover up the stinking corruption being perpetrated on Benue’s resources by his government.
“Since Alia took charge as governor, the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs has been involved in uncountable levels of corruption with billions of local government funds under its control missing and unaccounted for. Several civil society groups wrote petitions to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other anti-corruption agencies calling for the arrest and prosecution of Mr Akura, but Alia continued to harass the whistleblowers while shielding his Special Adviser.
“The removal of fuel subsidy by President Bola Tinubu increased allocations to states and local governments by more than 150%, but Governor Alia and his officials have been managing the state resources if it is his personal business without any transparency and accountability.
“The curious sack of Dennis Akura by Governor Alia raises serious concerns about accountability and integrity of his government. The timing of the LG Bureau Adviser’s dismissal, coinciding with ongoing investigations into corruption within the bureau, suggests an alarming attempt to deflect scrutiny from himself while scapegoating a subordinate.
“By dismissing Akura, Alia appears to prioritize his political survival over the need for genuine accountability. The petitions filed by some anti-corruption groups to the EFCC highlight the urgent need for a thorough investigation into both Akura’s conduct and the broader allegations of fraud against Governor Alia. The EFCC must act decisively to ensure that justice is served. Investigating these claims is not merely a matter of addressing individual misconduct; it is crucial for restoring faith in governance. The people deserve a governor that is held accountable, not merely one who seek to insulate themselves from scrutiny.
“The implications of this situation extend beyond personal accountability; they touch on the very fabric of governance in our state. The public deserves to know whether public funds have been mismanaged or misappropriated under Akura’s guidance, and whether Governor Alia played a role in these actions. A culture of impunity cannot be allowed to flourish, as it undermines the rule of law and stifles probity.
“In light of this, we call upon the EFCC and other relevant anti-corruption agencies to take immediate and thorough action. It is imperative that both the allegations against Dennis Akura and the broader implications of Governor Alia’s administration be investigated with rigour and impartiality. The time for accountability is now!“, the group submitted.
