Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State on Sunday suspended his Special Adviser on Documentation, Research, and Planning, Mkor Aondona, indefinitely.
This is contained in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula in Makurdi, the state capital.
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Mr Aondona’s suspension came days after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrested and detained him for alleged sextortion, cyberbullying, and blackmail.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that EFCC arrested Mr Aondona on Friday, 20 June.
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Governor Alia, in the statement, said the decision was in line with his unwavering commitment to uphold integrity, discipline, and accountability in public service.
He said that any official in his administration found wanting in matters of criminality or unethical misconduct would face the full weight of the law.
He assured the public that the law would take its full course without interference or bias, adding that his administration would not tolerate any act that brings the government into disrepute or undermines public trust.
The governor pointed out that public office was a call to serve with honour, transparency, and responsibility, and anyone who deviated from this path would have no place in his government.
The suspended aide is expected to submit himself fully to the legal process to answer to the grave allegations levelled against him, the statement said.
The statement further indicated that Governor Alia’s administration remained committed to protecting the rights and dignity of all citizens, especially women and vulnerable groups, and would continue to collaborate with law enforcement agencies to ensure justice was served.
EFCC said in a statement on Saturday that Mr Aondona was apprehended on Friday in Makurdi, following a series of petitions from female students who accused him of using his political position to sexually exploit young women under the guise of offering them ushering jobs.
According to a statement shared on Saturday by EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale, the petitioners claimed that Mr Aondona routinely targeted slim and attractive girls for event ushering roles and allegedly demanded sexual favours as a condition for selection.
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“The girls alleged that after being lured into sexual relations, they later discovered that Aondona had secretly recorded the acts and used the explicit videos to blackmail them, threatening to leak the footage if they refused to continue sleeping with him,” Mr Oyewale wrote.
He added that Mr Aondona allegedly distributed some of the explicit recordings—reportedly made without the victims’ consent—across several messaging platforms. Some of the videos are said to be in circulation.
The EFCC confirmed that Mr Aondona was in custody and would be charged in court soon.
