Benue ALGON Chairman Vitalis Neji Denied Bail, Remains in EFCC Custody Over Alleged ₦4.6 Billion Fraud

By Onoja Baba

The Chairman of the Benue State chapter of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) and Executive Chairman of Kwande Local Government Council, Hon. Vitalis Neji, was denied bail on Tuesday and remains in detention at the Makurdi zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The anti-graft agency arrested Neji on Friday 16th January after storming the ALGON House in Makurdi, barely a day after he had been grilled for several hours on Thursday at the EFCC headquarters in the state capital. The interrogation centered on allegations of fraud involving ₦4,600,000,000 (Four Billion Six Hundred Million Naira) purportedly diverted from funds meant for Benue State’s 23 local government councils through the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

Sources indicate that the funds in question were allegedly siphoned via consultancy arrangements approved for auditing local government staff, pensioners, Primary Healthcare workers, and personnel of Local Government Education Authorities across the state. Neji, along with other senior officials and private consultants, was initially handled by the EFCC’s Special Task Force unit before being transferred to the Bank Fraud Department as the probe intensified.

Following his Thursday questioning, Neji reportedly hurried back to convene an emergency meeting with the 23 local government chairmen on Friday to brief them on developments. However, before the session could begin, EFCC operatives swooped in again, re-arresting him in the presence of his colleagues and throwing the gathering into panic.

As of the time of filing this report, Hon. Neji is still detained, with no indication of imminent release. The case has heightened concerns among local government leaders in Benue State amid ongoing investigations into the alleged diversion.

SecretsReporters contacted the EFCC Spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, on Wednesday for an update on the matter. Oyewale requested time to liaise with the Makurdi zonal office and asked the reporter to call back later. When the reporter followed up by phone on Friday 23rd, the call went unanswered. A text message sent earlier to Oyewale also received no response.

The EFCC has not issued an official statement on Neji’s detention or the bail denial at the time of this report. The investigation continues, with multiple sources confirming that other officials and consultants remain in custody as the commission probes the ₦4,600,000,000 (Four Billion Six Hundred Million Naira) scandal.