Benue State Government Orders Former Lobi Stars Vice Chairmen to Refund N2.4 Billion After Forensic Audit
The Benue State Government has directed three former vice chairmen of Lobi Stars Football Club of Makurdi to refund a total of N2.4 billion into the state’s coffers. The order follows the release of a white paper on a forensic audit investigation into the club’s financial activities from January 2020 to September 2024.
Tersoo Kula, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Hyacinth Alia, announced this in a statement issued on Friday in Makurdi. The forensic audit was commissioned by the governor on October 7, 2024, under the leadership of Donatus San-Chir-Igba. The audit’s objective was to review the club’s financial records, focusing on income and expenditures, and to propose measures for the club’s future management.
The report, submitted on November 24, 2024, revealed that Lobi Stars had generated N3.7 billion during the period in question, but only N1.3 billion was accounted for, leaving a discrepancy of N2.4 billion. The white paper consequently named former vice chairmen Mr. Mike Idoko, Mr. Emmanuel Taman, and Mr. Dominic Iorfa, along with others who served under them, as responsible for the missing funds.
According to the findings, Mr. Idoko and his team are to refund N243 million for the 2020-2021 period; Mr. Taman’s administration is accountable for N434.3 million for 2021-2022; while Mr. Iorfa and his colleagues must return N692.4 million for 2022-2023, N702.8 million for 2023-2024, and N371.4 million for 2024-2025.
The forensic committee emphasized that all individuals and companies involved in financial dealings with the club during this period were invited to provide their side of the story before the investigation.
In addition to the refund directive, the report recommended that Lobi Stars be registered as a fully independent company with a mandate to generate its own revenue. It also suggested that sponsorship funds should be deposited directly into the club’s account, and that the Ministry of Sports should cease controlling the club’s daily operations.
The state government is expected to take further action based on the committee’s recommendations in order to strengthen the management and financial stability of Lobi Stars.
About The Author
