EFCC Nabs ex-Plateau Speaker, 14 Ex-Lawmakers over N2.5 Billion Fraud

The New Diplomat
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By Abiola Olawale

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has nabbed Moses Thomas Sule, former Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, alongside 14 other ex-lawmakers in a high-profile arrest over an alleged N2.5 billion scam.

EFCC Spokesperson Dele Oyewale confirmed the arrests in a press statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja.

According to the statement, the suspects were arrested by operatives of the EFCC’s Makurdi Zonal Directorate on Tuesday, following petitions from concerned citizens in the state.

Oyewale explained that the former legislators allegedly violated the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and were also implicated in procurement irregularities.

He explained that other lawmakers arrested alongside Sule included Gwottson Fom, Sani Abubakar, Jwe Gwom, Timothy Dantong, Happiness Akawu, and Cornelius Doeyok.

Oyewale listed others to include Agbalak Ibrahim, Danjuma Azi, Fwangje Ndat, Salome Waklet, Namba Rimuyat, Nimchak Rims, Ishaku Maren, and Paul Datugun.

The statement reads in part: “Investigation showed that the former legislators spent only six months in office, and the state government bought several luxury vehicles for them in their official capacities.

“Investigation further showed that the said vehicles are valued at N2.5 billion.

“Upon leaving office, the vehicles were meant to be returned to the state
government, but were taken away by the legislators, and all efforts to retrieve them have proved abortive.

“The state government had to procure another set of vehicles for the present members of the House of Assembly valued at about N2 billion.”

Oyewale said the suspects would be charged in court upon the conclusion of investigations.

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