By Deborah Nnamdi
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has taken into custody a former Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Moses Sule, along with 14 ex-lawmakers, over alleged involvement in money laundering and abuse of office.
EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale announced the arrests in a statement released on Wednesday in Abuja.
According to Oyewale, the arrests were carried out on Tuesday by operatives from the EFCC’s Makurdi Zonal Directorate, following multiple petitions filed by concerned citizens in Plateau State.
The former legislators are accused of breaching the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, as well as being involved in procurement-related infractions.
Among those arrested with Sule are Gwottson Fom, Sani Abubakar, Jwe Gwom, Timothy Dantong, Happiness Akawu, and Cornelius Doeyok.
Others include Agbalak Ibrahim, Danjuma Azi, Fwangje Ndat, Salome Waklet, Namba Rimuyat, Nimchak Rims, Ishaku Maren, and Paul Datugun.
“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,” he said.
Oyewale added that the suspects will face prosecution once investigations are concluded.
