Group petitions EFCC over alleged N25.25bn Benue constituency funds diversion
By Julius Alabi, Akure
A civil society group, Global Anti-Corruption Crusaders, has petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), alleging the diversion of N25 billion constituency allowance and N250 million Federal Government Nano Business Loan funds allegedly by the Senator representing Benue North-West Senatorial District, Titus Zam.
The group, in a petition dated August 27, 2026, and addressed to the Chairman of the EFCC, called on the anti-graft agency to investigate the allegations and prosecute the senator if found culpable.
The petition was signed by its Chairman, John Tsav, Esq., and Secretary, Anthony Apine.
The petitioners alleged that their independent investigation showed that Zam had received more than N25 billion as constituency allowances over the last three years but claimed that there were no corresponding projects of significant impact across the Benue North-West Senatorial District.
According to the group, documents purportedly obtained from the National Assembly and the senator’s office were attached to the petition to substantiate its allegations concerning the release and utilisation of funds meant for constituency projects.
The group alleged that the documents showed records of funds released for projects in the constituency, which it claimed were either diverted or not deployed for their intended purposes.
“We wish to make an official report against the senator representing Benue Northwest Senatorial Zone, Dr. Titus Zam, PhD, over some corrupt acts which we have traced to him during our recent investigation,” the petition stated.
It alleged that Zam had received over N25 billion as constituency allowances in the last three years, adding that the people of the senatorial district had allegedly not seen projects commensurate with the funds.
The organisation further alleged that the lawmaker diverted funds meant for the execution of projects across the constituency.
Apart from the alleged diversion of constituency funds, the petitioners also accused Zam of allegedly diverting N250 million under a Federal Government-backed Nano Business Loan Scheme in August 2025.
According to the petition, the loan programme was approved by the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment in collaboration with the Bank of Industry to support business owners.
The group, however, alleged that Zam used his position to submit 5,000 names purportedly presented as business owners from his senatorial district for the loan scheme.
It alleged that the names were fictitious and that the N250 million approved for the purported beneficiaries was subsequently diverted.
The petitioners further claimed that none of the alleged 5,000 beneficiaries had received any money under the scheme as of the time the petition was submitted.
The group alleged that its findings were supported by documents attached to the petition and urged the EFCC to thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding the disbursement and utilisation of the funds.
It also alleged that the senator was stockpiling the funds for his re-election campaign ahead of the 2027 general election, where he is expected to seek another term on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The petitioners said the latest allegations were not the first time they had reported Zam to the EFCC.
They recalled that they had earlier petitioned the commission over alleged financial misconduct involving N3.795 billion during Zam’s tenure as head of the Benue State Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs between June 2015 and August 2018.
According to the group, the earlier petition concerned the alleged diversion of N3,795,000,000 during his time in the Samuel Ortom administration.
The petitioners alleged that the development eventually contributed to Zam’s exit from the Ortom-led administration in 2018.
They said documents relating to the previous allegations were also attached to the fresh petition to assist the EFCC in its investigation.
“We have once again attached all the related documents of Senator Titus Zam’s fraudulent acts at the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to this fresh petition,” the group stated.
Global Anti-Corruption Crusaders appealed to the EFCC to immediately commence an investigation into the allegations.
The group said Zam should be held accountable and prosecuted if the allegations were established following a thorough investigation.
It expressed concern that the petition could be ignored and urged the anti-graft agency not to allow the matter to be “swept under the carpet.”
The petitioners also pledged their readiness to cooperate with investigators and testify against Zam and any other persons found to be connected with the alleged diversion.
“We are assuring you of our readiness to testify against Senator Titus Zam and his accomplices if the need arises,” the petition added.
