By Judith Chukwumeka, Makurdi
**We will shut down Benue if Alia fails to sack SUBEB boss
The Benue State Anti Corruption Watch, BACW, has accused the leadership of the Benue State House of Assembly of giving protection to the Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board, Mrs Grace Adaagba despite all the financial crimes she has committed at the agency, adding that the recent report which the House just released against the SUBEB boss is like giving medicine to a sick man after he has died.
The EFCC-affliated anti graft group made this allegation during a press conference which was addressed in Abuja this evening by its president, Barrister John Tion Esq.
The group which was reacting to a report and recommendation by the Benue State House of Assembly Committee stated that the investigation and report came very late just because the leadership of the House was busy giving protection to a ‘thief’ that has been using her office in SUBEB to steal billions of Naira.
The anti graft group challenged the state lawmakers to explain why they failed to carry out an investigation when a worded and detailed petition that exposed Adaagba’s theft in the Board was sent few months ago.
The group wondered why the Assembly members are just waking up from their slumber to ask the embattled SUBEB boss to return part of what she has stolen after they had given her illegal protection for more than a year despite petitions by pressure groups, calling for her sack and probe.
Recall that an anti graft group, Global Media Against Corruption had few months ago called on the governor of Benue state, Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia to sack Grace Adagba over her direct involvement in a N2.7B school contracts scam.
Reacting to the allegation of gross financial misappropriation made against Dr. Grace Adagba by some media organizations and private investigators in Makurdi at the middle of this year, the Nigeria Regional Director Global Media Against Corruption, Clems Aishida PhD, said that the allegations were too weighty to be swept under the carpet.
The international media group urged Governor Alia to uphold his promise to hand over any of his officials that is accused of any corrupt practice to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC for a proper probe.
Dr. Aishida noted that keeping a corrupt public officer such as Adagba in Alia’s government any further is a sign that the government is not transparent in its fight against corruption in the state.
At that time, the Global Media Against Corruption also called on the Benue State House of Assembly led by Speaker Dajoh Aondona to ensure the immediate suspension and probe of the embattled SUBEB chairman.
But during today’s press conference, Barrister John Tion said that the Benue State House of Assembly has continued to give protection to Dr. Grace Adaagba despite calls that were made on the state lawmakers many months ago to suspend and probe the corrupt SUBEB boss.
Tion said: “Despite calls on the State House of Assembly from pressure groups to investigate how Grace Adaagba also cornered several million of Naira from the money approved to train staff on public procurement processes and the automation of staff payroll system, the state lawmakers have continued to give her protection”
“We also brought it to the notice of the House of Assembly how Dr. Adagba instructed the Cashiers of SUBEB not to provide the Board’s financial information to any investigators just to cover up for her financial crimes but the lawmakers ignored us and gave her protection. She has been boasting of her closeness to the governor as a reason to steal public funds without being questioned”
The group however threatened to occupy the entire state capital in a protest if Governor Hyacinth Alia refuses to suspend Adaagba within seventy two just like he suspended the BSIEC chairman as well as the commissioner for Justice for erring.