The member representing Kwande/Ushongo Federal Constituency of Benue State, Terseer Ugbor says he has engaged lawyers to challenge Governor Hyacinth Alia and the Benue State Government in court over allegations that he diverted palliatives.
Ignore said his legal team is expected to examine the allegations and take appropriate action to safeguard his image in order to set the records straight in the court of law.
He said he is suing the Alia government for defamation of character and is requesting for N1 billion as compensation.
Speaking with journalists in Abuja on Friday, he explained that he intends to invest the compensation in building a housing estate for displaced people in Kwande.
According to Ugbor, while attending the United Nations General Assembly in the US, he learnt that the governor had confiscated a truck load of relief materials which he secured for his constituents from the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, in Makurdi and handed them over to operatives of EFCC and ICPC for investigation.
He said, “While in the USA for the United Nations General Assembly at the invitation of the Presidency, I learnt that NEMA approved additional palliative for Kwande/Ushongo Federal Constituency in response to my requests for more assistance.”
Meanwhile, a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Tersoo Kula said the “truck was caught offloading relief materials meant for IDPs of the Kwande/Ushongo Federal Constituency at a private residence in Makurdi”.
According to Kula, “It was later discovered that the goods were released from a National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) warehouse in Jos, and were supposed to be sponsored by the state government and lifted by the State Emergency Management Agency.”
Alia impounded the truck and ordered that it be brought to the Government House and directed anti-graft agencies to carry out further investigation, even as he called on relevant officials to ensure that the materials were distributed to the rightful recipients.
Ugbor claimed that governor’s action was politically motivated and was unnecessary, adding that he was ready to defend his name.
“In light of this development, I have instructed my legal team to examine the accusations and consider taking appropriate action to safeguard my reputation and set the record straight in court.
“My support for the transportation, storage, and distribution of palliative to displaced individuals in Kwande is not a new endeavor, yet it has seemingly provoked the governor’s displeasure,” the lawmaker added.