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From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
The Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice and Public Order, in Benue state, Barr. Fidelis Mnyin, has disclosed that Governor Hyacinth Alia’s administration inherited over N14 billion debt as Consent Judgement owed by the immediate past State government.
Barr. Mnyim made this disclosure on Tuesday during an interaction with members of the correspondent Chapel of the Nigeria Union Journalists, (NUJ), in his office, in Makurdi.
According to him, the immediate past administration of Samuel Ortom had countless consent judgements at its twilight which he left behind.
He explained that the judgements bordered on several unpaid contracts as well as unpaid pensions running into 34 months.
“People became aggressive, approached lawyers and filed processes in court against the state government to get their money instead of flowing with the case. At the twilight of the last administration, a lot of consent judgement was entered.
“When we came in, we had over N14 billion of these consent Judgements and still counting and these sum were fed into garnishee awaiting for us. You cannot even appeal these consent judgements except by the consent of the trial court because Government agreed to pay them and Government is a continuum, whether it was rightly entered or wrongly entered.
” Even as we speak, more garnishees have kept flying in and if not the prudent management of the garnishees, even payment of salaries would have been affect but we have been able to set aside three,” he said.
The State Attorney-General expressed joy that three garnishee orders which would have affected the payment of salary have been set aside while others would be paid instalmentally.
“I am aware of the mess before we came back in, the almighty garnishees which are revolving will soon be a thing of the past. We are working tirelessly to sort out the issues.”
Mnyin lamented the state of infrastructure in his Ministry saying “Infrastructure in the ministry is in a sorry site to say the least and termites were occupying the place. I was shocked and surprised. The Governor visited here and saw the termite home and was appalled. We are working to improve the facilities and when next you visit, you will have a positive impression,” he assured.
Barr. Mnyim frowned at the recent spread of fake news about the state government especially in the social media and urged media practitioners to always investigate and uphold the truth at all times.
He said, “It pains me when I read very unfounded things on elders of this state and about the state government. As a government, we are inviting investors to the state but we wake up every day to see ugly reports about the state. How do you expect an investor to come with all the fake news, he queried.
“I urge you to keep defending the truth. As a contracting party, keep the State accountable on its seven pillars but this should be done in truth.
“Government will stand for journalists if they speak the truth,” he assured.
