On Monday, Justice Tertsea Asue of the Makurdi High Court rejected Samuel Ortom’s bid to appeal a previous ruling. Ortom, the former governor of Benue State, sought to block Governor Hyacinth Alia’s investigation into his administration’s finances. The court also denied Ortom’s request for a stay of proceedings.
Ortom’s legal team, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Oba Maduabuchi, had argued for permission to appeal the ruling and delay further proceedings. However, the court sided with respondents, who contested the jurisdiction of the court and argued that Ortom’s application lacked merit.
The case revolves around Alia’s establishment of inquiry panels to investigate Ortom’s administration, which Ortom claims duplicates efforts already undertaken by the Auditor-General and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The court has adjourned to July 30, 2024, to further review Ortom’s application.
