The First lady of Benue State, Dr (Mrs) Eunice Ortom has described as false a news item purporting her six-hour grilling by officers of the Economic and Financial crimes Commission (EFCC) over issues having to do with the Social Investment Program (SIP) of the Federal Government of Nigeria.
A statement issued in Makurdi on Saturday by Mr. Shima Aondoakaa , the Press Coordinator to the Wife of the Governor of Benue state, said as follows:
- Dr Mrs Ortom has no relationship with the SIP being an FG program with its staff and other due compliments. This clarification should thus put paid to the various allegations of sleaze in the vexations, fake reports.
- At no time was Her Excellency invited by EFCC or any law enforcement agency over issues of corruption or misdemeanor. Her numerous bouquet of friends, family and associates should thus be rest assured that Dr. Mrs Ortom is still the woman of integrity she has always been, and unchanged by her God-given and people activated elevation to her present position of First lady.
- Perhaps, not minding the political mud- slinging intent of the publication, and viewed against the success of the Eunice Spring of Life Found (ESLF), her NGO that has brought succour to thousands of people we would like to further state as follows:
- The funding of ESLF comes from Her Excellency’s input and contributions from well wishers who believe in the NGO cutting across the smallest donor to big donors. ESLF is built to last beyond the life of the present administration of her husband, viewed against such collaborations.
- Although licensed as a private, not-for- profit organization, ESLF follows due procedure and is open in all its dealings… a rare transparency feat for a non-regulated player in the country.
- In conclusion, we want to state that Her Excellency would not be deterred in her doing good, targeted at the vulnerable in our society, scathing falsehood on her person or the works of her NGO notwithstanding.
- We believe that even in the serpentine atmosphere that is fast breeding vermins of pen hooliganism, for a dogged, God fearing person like Dr Mrs Eunice Ortom, the light would shine through all the detractions especially when crafted in the school of the now- trending buzzword of FAKE NEWS.”