Benue Anti-Corruption Watch (BACW), a socio-political organisation, has accused suspended Benue State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Bemsen Mnyim, of working with the Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, to undermine the administration of the state governor, Rev. Father Hyacinth Alia.
Specifically, BACW alleged that Akume, a former governor of the state, who nominated the suspended commissioner for Governor Alia last year, was the one who encouraged Mnyim to join in the suit filed before the Supreme Court by some state governors praying for an order to scrap the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC).
In a statement signed by its President, Barrister John Tion Esq., the anti-corruption watch group maintained that Mnyim was allegedly instructed by Akume to join in the lawsuit aimed at scrapping the anti-graft agencies, contrary to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s policy.
Barrister Tion expressed concern that Mnyim’s actions were orchestrated to create tension between Governor Alia and President Tinubu, similar to the crisis Akume allegedly instigated between former Governor Samuel Ortom and former President Muhammadu Buhari during his tenure as Minister for Special Duties.
The group wondered why a state commissioner for Justice would join a suit which was instituted by some governors to scrap the Nigeria’s anti graft agencies without informing his principal or without the authorization of his principal, Governor Alia.
The group questioned Mnyim’s decision to join the lawsuit without Governor Alia’s knowledge or authorization, saying it was clear that his loyalty lies with Senator Akume rather than the governor.
The statement noted: “In our investigation, we discovered that Barrister Mnyim has been using his position to support Garnishee Orders against the state government and would later collect kickbacks from the plaintiffs.
“Why will the governor want to reinstate a man who has turned his state to a Garnishee state within a year and half?”
According to the group, Mnyim’s action clearly showed that he was working for the SGF to make the governor look as if he is attacking the anti-corruption crusade of the federal government under President Tinubu.
BACW applauded Governor Alia for suspending Mnyim and urged him to find a replacement immediately, even as it called for state Attorney-General’s immediate prosecution, citing alleged fraudulent acts during his tenure as Attorney General.
The statement further reads: “The suspended commissioner has been accused of poor arrangement of lawyers to defend the state government when it comes to the issue of Garnishee just because he wanted to get kickbacks.
“He has also not been attending to state issues as required, and perhaps that was why he joined those governors to institute that case for the scrap of the EFCC and ICPC. It’s now clear that he has things to hide from the anti graft agencies hence his joinder in the suit to scrap them.”
The group advised other state governors to collaborate with Nigerian anti-graft agencies to combat corruption.