Car Theft

From Luxury SUVs To Sedans: How Gov. Alia’s Committee Uncovered 23 Vehicles ‘Hidden’ By Ex-Gov Ortom

Published

2 months ago

September 9, 2026

From Luxury SUVs To Sedans: How Gov. Alia’s Committee Recovered 23 Vehicles ‘Hidden’ By Ex-Gov Ortom

From Luxury SUVs To Sedans: How Gov. Alia’s Committee Uncovered 23 Vehicles ‘Hidden’ By Ex-Gov Ortom

The ongoing drama between the current Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, and his predecessor, Samuel Ortom, just took another dimension after it was revealed that a massive fleet of 23 vehicles was recovered by the state’s Asset Recovery Committee.

Speaking on Arise News on Wednesday, Tersoo Kula, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Alia, revealed that the state’s Asset Recovery Committee successfully recovered the massive fleet that was reportedly hidden in a mechanic workshop.

While fiercely disputing Ortom’s claims that the vehicles were official, legally approved retirement perks, Kula questioned why an individual would require such an extensive collection of automobiles.

From Luxury SUVs To Sedans: How Gov. Alia’s Committee Recovered 23 Vehicles ‘Hidden’ By Ex-Gov Ortom

“Nigerians must ask former Governor Ortom what he needs 23 cars for,” Kula stated during the live broadcast. “He is not the first governor of Benue or of Nigeria. How many of his peers left office with that number of cars?”

The governor’s spokesperson further alleged that the vehicles were intentionally concealed from public view rather than being parked at a personal residence.

“These vehicles were not taken to his house like property genuinely given to him,” Kula added sharply. “Instead, they were hidden in a mechanic workshop.”

According to reports, the impounded vehicles grew from an initial batch of 23 vehicles taken during the raid on the Oracle Business Network facility in Makurdi, up to 37 vehicles.

From Luxury SUVs To Sedans: How Gov. Alia’s Committee Uncovered 23 Vehicles ‘Hidden’ By Ex-Gov Ortom

The recovered lineup reportedly features heavily utilized Nigerian VIP favorites, including exotic sedans and luxury SUVs typically assigned to high-ranking state convoys, as well as Toyota Hilux trucks, buses, and a functional ambulance.

However, Ortom, the former Benue State Governor, during a live broadcast interview on Arise News on Tuesday, defended himself against actions taken by the Asset Recovery Committee of his successor, Governor Hyacinth Alia.

“After I left office, vehicles that were legitimately allocated to me by the government were seized by the administration in a manner that was unbecoming,” Ortom said.

“I went to court, defeated them, and the court ordered them to pay N5 million in damages in addition to returning the 23 vehicles that were initially seized.”