Former Benue State governor Samuel Ortom has revealed that a dispute over 23 vehicles allegedly seized from him after he left office ended in court, with the former governor saying he secured an order compelling his successor’s administration, Hyacinth Alia, to return the vehicles and pay N5 million in damages.

Ortom disclosed the development during a live interview on Arise Television on Tuesday, while accusing the Alia administration of using state power to intimidate political opponents and disregard the rule of law.

The former governor said Benue State Government had legitimately allocated vehicles to him, which the current administration seized after he left office.

He said he challenged the action in court and prevailed.

“After I left office, vehicles that were legitimately allocated to me by the government were seized by the administration in a manner that was unbecoming,” Ortom said.

“I went to court, defeated them, and the court ordered them to pay N5 million in damages in addition to returning the 23 vehicles that were initially seized.”

Ortom governed Benue for eight years between 2015 and 2023 under the Peoples Democratic Party, while Alia contested and won the 2023 governorship election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress.

The relationship between the two administrations has been marked by accusations and counter-accusations over the state’s finances, government property and decisions taken during the transition from one administration to another.

Alia’s administration had, on assuming office, raised concerns about the financial position of the state and the handling of government affairs under the previous administration. Ortom has consistently rejected allegations of wrongdoing and has defended decisions taken while he was governor.

In his latest remarks, however, Ortom said his concerns went beyond the dispute over the vehicles.

He accused the current administration of abandoning political engagement and failing to bring politicians from different parties together for discussions on issues affecting the state.

“Since this government came into office, there has not been a single stakeholders’ meeting across party lines,” he said.

Ortom described the APC administration in the state as “a sham”, arguing that its conduct was inconsistent with democratic principles.

“We have a government in Benue State that does not believe in the rule of law, that engages in witch-hunts and runs down its opponents,” he said.