The Benue State Government has been thrown into turmoil following the detention of the Commissioner for Finance, Michael Oglegba, by security operatives in Abuja over an unpaid ₦1.2 billion vehicle supply contract meant for the State House of Assembly. The development has reportedly unsettled Governor Hyacinth Alia, who is seeking answers over the stalled payment.
According to investigation, the issue stems from an emergency procurement exercise carried out in August 2025 for the purchase of nine vehicles, including Toyota Land Cruiser Prado SUVs for lawmakers, a Hilux truck for the Assembly Clerk, and a Hiace bus for official use. Approval for the process was granted by the Benue State Public Procurement Commission, after which Royal Brims Investments Limited was invited to submit a bid under a tight timeline.
By mid-August, the contractor issued an invoice totalling ₦1.205 billion, and official documents show that the Office of the Accountant-General subsequently authorised the release of ₦1.204 billion as full payment for the contract. The approval explicitly stated that statutory deductions such as VAT and withholding tax were to be applied before funds were disbursed.
Despite these clear approvals and a directive from Governor Alia instructing the Ministry of Finance to release the funds, the payment was never made. Sources say the governor has expressed concern over why the directive was ignored, with attention now focused on the finance commissioner’s role in the delay, which has led to his detention and an expanding investigation.