From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
A pressure group under the aegis of Benue Arise For Accountability Network (BAFAN) has called on the Benue State Governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia to probe the tenures of former Chairmen of the Benue Internal Revenue Service, BIRS, Andrew Ayabam.
The group stated this in statement signed by its President, Comrade Dan Enyigwe and made available to newsmen in Makurdi on Saturday.
The group also said the probe should be extended to the tenure of Chief Mrs Mimi Adzape-Orubibi and Terzungwe Atser.
According to the group, Ayabam had been indicted for corruption by the Judicial Commission of Inquiry set up by the administration of former governor, Chief Samuel Ortom and the report was only set aside as part of the bargain for Chief Ortom to join the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, whose members were mostly affected by the report of the probe panel.
According to the group, if not for the setting aside of the report by the Benue State Executive Council, Ayabam would have been behind bars by now.
The group also alleged that Ayabam’s first tenure as BIRS Chairman ushered in the existence of illegal check points on Benue roads.
The group also pointed out that Ayabam’s second coming as BIRS Chairman saw the emergence of not less than 17 illegal check points in his Ushongo Local Government Area, LGA.
It further alleged that Ayabam’s second tenure also saw the significant drop in revenue, thereby affecting Benue’s share of FAAC, which affected the funds available to the state for development.
BAFAN also disclosed that Ayabam’s tenure as BIRS Chairman is often characterized by the establishment of many branches of his business empire which began to decline shortly after he left office, purchase of landed property all over Benue State, amongst others.
Enyigwe stated that the sharp decline in the fortunes of the businesses immediately he leaves office is a sign that the business venture could be used for money laundering.
He urged the governor to probe all past chairmen of the BIRS from 2011 till date to avoid mistakes of the past.
In her reaction, the former Chairman of BIRS, Mrs Mimi Adzape-Orubibi said it would be a waste of time and resources to o probe her again as she has been probed before and nothing was found on her.
“I have been probed before after I left BIRS in my first tenure in 2018. I was taken to the EFCC and the case was withdrawn for lack of evidence. You can verify for yourself. But I welcome the probe,” she said.
When contacted, the former BIRS Chairman, Andrew Ayabam described the group as faceless and not worth responding to.