Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested a former Speaker of Plateau House of Assembly, Moses Sule, as well as 14 former lawmakers over allegations of money laundering and abuse of office.
Spokesperson of the anti-graft agency, Dele Oyewale, made this known on Thursdays in a statement in Abuja.
According to him, 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 named the other lawmakers arrested alongside Sule as 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 Waklek, 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 said the suspects would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.