EFCC arrests ex-Plateau speaker, 14 ex-lawmakers over alleged N2.5bn vehicle fraud

Abdullateef Fowewe

Operatives from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at the Makurdi Zonal Directorate have apprehended Moses Thomas Sule, a former Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, along with 14 other former Assembly members for their alleged involvement in money laundering and the misuse of procurement procedures.

The individuals taken into custody include Gwottson Fom, Sani Abubakar, Jwe Philip Gwom, Thomas Dantong, Happiness Mathew Akawu, Cornelius Dotyok, Agbalak Ibrahim, Danjuma Azi, Fwangje Bala Ndat, Salome Tanimu Wanglet, Namba Rimuyat, Nimchak Rims, Ishaku Maren, and Paul Datugun.

Their arrest came after concerned citizens of Plateau State submitted a petition claiming that the former legislators had breached the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act of 2022 during their short six-month period in office.

A statement from the anti-graft agency detailed that investigations found the state government had acquired luxury vehicles valued at N2.5 billion for the lawmakers during their tenure.

However, instead of returning the vehicles upon leaving office, the former legislators allegedly took them away, prompting the government to procure another fleet for the new lawmakers at an additional cost of N2 billion.

Efforts by the state government to recover the vehicles reportedly failed, leading to the current probe.

The EFCC confirmed that the suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.