A commission established by the Benue State Government to investigate the state’s financial activities from 2015 to 2023 has revealed that about N139.8 billion in public funds could not be properly accounted for.
The Chairman of the Benue State Income and Expenditure Commission of Inquiry, retired Justice Jubril Idrisu, made the disclosure on Friday while submitting the panel’s report to Governor Hyacinth Alia at the Government House in Makurdi.
Presenting the findings, Idrisu stated that the commission discovered that Benue State generated more than N826.5 billion during the eight-year period under review, while total spending amounted to approximately N683.4 billion.
He noted that the difference between the revenue and expenditure figures left an unexplained balance of roughly N139.8 billion, which the commission recommended should be recovered from individuals found liable.
“The commission’s findings, contained in two volumes, revealed significant concerns in the management of public finances during the period under review.
“Records showed that the state generated over N826.5 billion in revenue, while expenditure stood at about N683.4 billion, leaving an unaccounted balance of approximately N139.8 billion,” he said.
Justice Idrisu explained that the commission, inaugurated in June 2025, was tasked with examining the finances of the immediate past administration as well as the 23 local government councils between May 29, 2015, and May 28, 2023.
The panel also identified questionable loan dealings involving some local councils and financial institutions, including cases where repayments allegedly exceeded the original loan values without adequate supporting records.
According to the commission chairman, investigators further traced
