Terseer Ugbor, a member of the House of Representatives from Kwande/Ushongo Federal Constituency, Benue State, has taken legal steps against Governor Hyacinth Alia, accusing the governor of diverting palliatives meant for his constituents. Ugbor has hired Renaissance Legal Consulting, a law firm, to explore legal action, including a defamation lawsuit seeking N1 billion in compensation.
Ugbor claims the governor wrongfully seized a truckload of relief materials that he had obtained from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) for distribution to displaced people in his constituency. According to Ugbor, Governor Alia confiscated the materials and handed them over to authorities, claiming the palliatives were being diverted for private use.
Speaking on the matter, Ugbor revealed, “While attending the United Nations General Assembly in the United States of America, I learned that the governor had confiscated a truckload of relief materials I secured for my constituents from the National Emergency Management Agency, and handed it over in Makurdi for investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.”
He stated that the compensation from the lawsuit, if successful, would be used to build housing for displaced persons in his constituency. Ugbor further claimed that his efforts to support his community have been politicized by the governor’s actions, and he believes the seizure of the palliatives was unnecessary.
Governor Alia’s office, however, defended the seizure. Last week, Tersoo Kula, the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, released a statement alleging that the truck was caught unloading relief materials meant for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Kwande/Ushongo at a private residence in Makurdi. Kula added that the relief materials had come from NEMA’s warehouse in Jos and were supposed to be delivered through the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), which had not been informed of the delivery.
Governor Alia expressed dissatisfaction with the situation and directed anti-corruption agencies to investigate the matter further. He also ordered that the palliatives be distributed to the intended recipients.
Ugbor, however, dismissed these claims, insisting that the palliatives were not being unloaded at a private residence but rather at a well-known warehouse in Makurdi. He suggested that the timing of the seizure and the accusations against him were politically motivated, given that the truck had only just arrived in the state and no unloading had taken place.
“My support for the transportation, storage, and distribution of palliatives to displaced individuals in Kwande is not a new endeavour, yet it has seemingly provoked the governor’s displeasure,” Ugbor stated. He maintained that his actions should be appreciated, as he is merely trying to secure resources for his constituency.
