Former Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has refuted allegations linking him to the 2017 arrest and detention of his predecessor, Gabriel Suswam, by the Department of State Services (DSS).
The denial was contained in a statement issued on Monday by Terver Akase, on behalf of Chief Ortom, in response to a report authored by Denen Achussah and published in an online platform.
Akase accused the report’s author of compromising journalistic ethics by inserting personal opinions into the story.
He specifically cited a paragraph in the report that alleged Governor Ortom’s administration wrote petitions leading to Suswam’s detention and interrogation by anti-graft agencies.
According to Akase, the claim is not only unprofessional but misleading, as it suggests a biased narrative.
“Journalism demands impartiality and factual reporting.
“By inserting personal biases into the report, the editor not only misled readers but also cast doubt on the credibility of his publication,” the statement read.
Akase clarified that the DSS, in its 2017 statement, explicitly stated that Suswam’s arrest was based on the discovery of sophisticated weapons during a raid on his properties in Maitama, Abuja, and not on any petition filed by Ortom or his associates.
He further explained that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had initiated a money laundering case involving ₦3.1 billion against Suswam before Ortom assumed office in 2015.
The anti-corruption agency reportedly received petitions concerning the funds while Suswam was still governor, making it baseless to accuse Ortom of instigating the trial.
Addressing the issue of a probe into Suswam’s administration, Akase confirmed that Ortom’s government had set up a commission of inquiry to investigate financial transactions during Suswam’s tenure.
However, he noted that the probe was halted following an appeal by the Tiv Traditional Council (TTC), whose intervention was respected by the state government.
The statement also urged media owners to employ qualified journalists who adhere to ethical standards, emphasizing that politically motivated reporting undermines the credibility of the profession.
“The path to ensuring credibility lies in adherence to the principles of neutrality, truth, and fairness,” the statement concluded.