Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia has suspended his Special Adviser on Research and Planning, Mkor Aondona, following the latter’s arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over serious allegations of sexual exploitation, blackmail, and cyberbullying.
The suspension was announced on Sunday, June 22, 2025, a day after the EFCC confirmed the arrest of Aondona in connection with a sex-for-jobs scandal involving multiple victims. The case has sparked widespread public outrage, particularly due to the gravity of the allegations and Aondona’s position within the state government.
According to the EFCC, the investigation was prompted by complaints from several female students who accused the now-suspended aide of leveraging his political office to coerce them into sexual relationships with the promise of securing job placements. The victims alleged that Aondona secretly recorded the encounters without their consent and subsequently used the videos to blackmail them.
The anti-graft agency stated that Aondona threatened to release the recordings if the victims refused to continue submitting to his sexual demands. These actions, the EFCC noted, constitute a clear case of sextortion and abuse of public office, prompting his immediate arrest.
Governor Alia, in his official reaction, said the suspension was a necessary disciplinary measure intended to preserve the integrity of his administration. The governor stressed that his government would not tolerate any form of criminal or unethical behavior from its officials.
“Any official of my administration found guilty of criminal or ethical misconduct will face the full wrath of the law,” Governor Alia said in a statement released through his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula.
The governor further described public office as a position of trust that must be exercised with transparency, accountability, and a sense of responsibility. He warned that anyone who failed to uphold these values would not be allowed to remain in government.
“Public office is a call to serve with honour, transparency, and responsibility,” the statement continued. “Anyone who deviates from this path will have no place in my government.”
The suspension marks a swift and public rebuke by the governor, who has faced growing pressure to act decisively in the wake of the allegations. Public reaction has been intense, with civil society groups, students, and advocacy organizations calling for a thorough investigation and full prosecution of Aondona if found guilty.
The EFCC has not disclosed how many victims were involved, but confirmed that the investigation is ongoing. The commission has also urged anyone with additional information to come forward, promising that all reports would be handled with confidentiality and sensitivity.
This incident has cast a shadow over Governor Alia’s administration, which has pledged to uphold ethical standards and good governance. The case is especially troubling as it involves young women allegedly exploited under the guise of employment opportunities, raising broader concerns about systemic abuse and the vulnerability of job-seeking individuals in political networks.
Human rights advocates have praised the governor’s immediate suspension of the adviser but insist that the matter must not end there. They have called for an independent review of appointment protocols and stronger safeguards to prevent similar abuses of office in the future.
The EFCC, meanwhile, has reiterated its commitment to rooting out corruption and abuse of office at all levels, warning that anyone involved in criminal conduct—regardless of political status—will be held accountable.
Aondona remains in EFCC custody as of Monday morning, and legal proceedings are expected to commence once investigations are concluded. The governor has given no indication of who will replace him in the role of Special Adviser on Research and Planning.
For now, the administration is focusing on damage control as the scandal continues to dominate headlines across Benue State and beyond.
