Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has said he does plan to protect any of his appointees accused of corruption from investigation and prosecution.
Governor Ortom revealed that he has never been one to prevent justice from prevailing.
He added that his utmost respect for the rule of law will always guide his principle as governor of the state.
This was his reaction to the arraignment of his Principal Private Secretary, Mr. Steven Amase and a former Commissioner for Works in the state, Mr. Emmanuel Manger, by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for allegedly manipulating the award of a N4.8billion road project in the state.
His words, “The allegation is a mere accusation and the onus lies on the accuser to prove the same beyond all reasonable doubts. And for emphasis, none of my appointees has been convicted since the inception of my administration.
“It is also normal in law that if any anti-graft agency accuses anyone of a corrupt act, it is left to that person to avail himself and defend the allegations because a person is presumed innocent until found guilty and convicted by the courts.”
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