Tuesday, June 16, 2020

Commandant arrested for alleged N449.5m fraud

Juliana Francis
A vigilante commandant, George Mbessey, has been arrested over alleged diversion of public funds to the tune of N449.5million.

Mbessey was arrested by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Makurdi Zonal Office, over allegation of conspiracy, abuse of office and diversion of public funds.
Mbessey, who is the Commandant, Benue State Vigilante Group, BSVG, was arrested by the EFCC yesterday in Makurdi following a petition urging the Commission to investigate a case of alleged financial recklessness against the suspect.
The EFCC spokesman, Dele Oyewale, said: “The petitioners stated that, the BSVG used to receive its official funding of N20million monthly directly from the Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs through its official account. Between October 2018 and May 2020, the suspect allegedly collected funds meant for the Benue State Vigilante Group to the tune of N449,500,000, using personal account, an act which the petitioners claimed did not follow due process. Thus, the petition to the EFCC.”
Meanwhile, the suspect has volunteered useful information to the Commission and would be arraigned in court as soon as investigation is concluded.

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